C.C. Sabathia, Yankees Agree to Contract Extension
By Editorial Staff
C.C. Sabathia and the New York Yankees came to an agreement on a contract extension hours before Sabathia’s opt-out decision came due. The new deal includes a one year $25 million extension and a $25 million vesting option for 2017. If the option doesn’t vest, Sabathia will receive a $5 million buyout, meaning the left-hander has $122 million guaranteed coming his way over the next five years.
Following the announcement of the new deal, Sabathia told reporters that he never had any interest in “opting out and all that stuff” and he had no interest in “being a free agent”. Throughout the negotiation process, the media reported that Sabathia loved New York and the lefty only confirmed this sentiment yesterday, noting that he hopes to end his career as a Yankee.
With his new contract, Sabathia thinks that he can do just that. The 31-year-old said that his main goal had been to add extra years to his deal. Sabathia told reporters that the money was not as much of a concern as tacking on the additional years.
But, as a result of the longer deal, Sabathia will obviously be receiving more money. Buster Olney provided the breakdown of the extension and vesting option, and Sabathia is now set to make $23 million per year from 2012-2015 and $25 million in 2016. In 2017, Sabathia will make $25 million if his option vests or the Yankees will buy out his contract for $5 million. As long as Sabathia finishes the 2016 season healthy, his 2017 option will vest.
Sabathia’s health was another topic of conversation Monday, as reporters questioned C.C. about his weight. It was well documented that Sabathia entered the 2011 season having shed some pounds, but by the end of the season, the left-hander had gained most of it back.
Moving forward, Sabathia said that he needs to be “proactive” regarding his health. Sabathia wants to “be out there for every start” with the Yankees, and he realizes that in order to do that over the long haul, he’ll have to lose weight.
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