Moneytalks: C.C. coming to the Big Apple | King Mike's Blog

Sabathia with the Brewers. By No means, David Wells, but, in experts mind, the next Yankee ace.

So I guess I was proven wrong. C.C. Sabathia is coming to the Bronx after all.

I'll admit it. As a unbiased Yankee fan, I thought he was going to sign to a West Coast team. It was possible the Giants could have eaten up Barry Zito's contract. But no. Like Opie and Anthony would say, the Yankees always win in the end.

The workhorse of last year and perhaps the most important African American baseball player today, C.C. agreed to a 7 year, $161 million contract with a three year opt out cause. For the first time since David Cone and David Wells years ago, the Yankees have a true ace and a proven competitor.

So what does this mean for next year? Well, for starters, he probably will be in a 1-2 punch of him and Chien-Ming Wang, who is recovering from a hamstring injury. Two holes need to be filled in the rotation, and Joba Chamberlain, who should be set-up to Mariano Rivera, will probably be in the fifth spot, assuming Phil Hughes is not in the rotation. If Lowe and/or Burnett were to go to the Bronx after this deal, this could be a ticket to the 2009 playoffs (ahem, remember what Sports Illustrated said about the Tigers this year...)

But hold on your horses yet. The Yankees aren't done yet. Lowe and Burnett are still on their list after offering contracts. And Andy Pettite is being offered $10 million to pitch in the Bronx. Mike Cameron could possibly reunite with C Squared. I still believe if I was Brian Cashman, I have to reach out Bobby Abreu because what he did in the three spot ahead of Alex Rodriguez was extremely productive.

Lastly, give some kudos to the Mets for getting rid of that disease named Heilmangetis, or Aaron Heilmann as you would say. J.J. Putz could be better proven as set-up than Huston Street. But why get rid of Joe Smith? He was fine in the bullpen? Get rid of Duaner Sanchez, whose velocity was down the toilet last year. We all know Omar Minaya loves to pay and he will stop at nothing to make a great bullpen. Not just two bullpen pitchers, but an entire bullpen.

Tonight on the show, I will discuss the last day of the meetings and Brian McNamee uncensored about the Rocket up his as, ahem, Roger Clemens.

King Mike, Mike McIlraith, is a blog writer for Sports Illustrated's FanNation, and is a lacrosse player. His radio show, "King Mike's Throne," can be heard online at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/King-Mike

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December 11, 2008 11:01 PM ET

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Yanks are hoping they get three years out of C.C. This deal just might blow up in their faces, but then again, this is the only team willing to shell out the big bucks for anyone.