October 15, 2011

Opting Out

The Yankee Analysts talk about the elephant in the room in regards to CC Sabathia’s opt-out clause:

Put yourself in the shoes of a Yankee executive. A player expresses family-related concerns during a contract negotiation which you address with an opt out clause. He then turns around 3 years later and uses that clause to extract a multi-year extension from you, despite the painfully obvious fact that both he and his family are perfectly happy here. Wouldn’t you feel a bit betrayed? Wouldn’t the good guy image of Sabathia take a hit in your eyes? The Yankee brass are big boys, and I’m sure they can handle this and far worse. But in business these are things you notice and don’t forget.

Let me make something abundantly clear. I have no problem whatsoever with any player maximizing his value during the short and unpredictable time they have the opportunity to be at the major league level. You and I would do the very same thing if we had the opportunity. But I don’t think its too much to ask someone to deal with their employer fairly and honestly. Especially one who you plan on having an ongoing relationship with. There have been no reports of the Yanks deserving this for any reason. The Yankees have done nothing but cater to CC at every opportunity. The travel first class wherever they go. The clubhouse is a country club, which he shares with some of the biggest stars in the game. He has a chance to win it all every year. If CC chooses to opt out, if I was his employer I would think he’s not the good guy he portrays himself to be, at least not in his business dealings.

I agree with this. It seems to me the opt-out was to avoid a Randy Johnson situation, where the pitcher was unhappy with the Yankees. That is clearly not the case. CC should not opt-out of his contract.

9 thoughts on “Opting Out

  1. James

    I totally disagree.

    Whatever the original reason for the clause, it is now a very valuable possession of Sabathia’s. The Yankees could offer to buy it from him. If they don’t and they want him to waive his option, then they’re asking him to give them something very valuable, for nothing. That’s absurd.

    I’m willing to give CC the benefit of the doubt and assume that he really did ask for the clause in order to avoid a Randy Johnson situation. But now he’s got it, and there’s nothing dishonest about exercising it just because he can make extra bucks.

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  2. t ball

    I agree with James, Sabathia should be all about his own best interests when it comes to any contract negotiations. When he’s on the field, he should be all about helping the team win, but when it comes to negotiations why should he give away anything?

    The teams get the players at far below their market value for the first 6 years of their careers, the players should not give up any leverage once they’ve earned free agency.

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  3. Jesse R

    As a Yankees fan, I can say if he opts out and doesn’t perform like he is right now, he will be treated just like A-Rod… #1 scapegoat. It comes down to “how does he want to appear to the fans?” and I think money beats that any day.

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  4. Luis

    The point being made is one of honor-If CC wanted the clause to escape if it did not go well in NY and stated it as such, and if he has no complaints about stay in NY then he should not opt out as that is not why the clause was inserted into the contract. If there are issues of which the public is ignorant, that is a different matter, but to use it to simply extract more $$ from the Yankess would be in violation of the spirit of the clause.

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  5. Plank

    It comes down to “how does he want to appear to the fans?” and I think money beats that any day.

    I would take the extra 60M in a heartbeat.

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  6. Slideshow Bob

    Oh, please. If the Yankees agreed to the clause thinking that Sabathia might not exercise it, they’re fools. And you know what they say about fools and their money.

    Sabathia was at least arguably the best pitcher in the American League this year (his 7.1 WAR edged out Verlander’s 7.0), and he deserves every penny he can get out of the Yankees. He shouldn’t worry about a backlash. Rodriguez took some heat for a season, but all was forgiven after the 2009 World Series.

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  7. Luis

    Plank

    I dont know how much of the income the Steinbrenners keep-They obviously spend a lot of it on player salaries. My point is simply if the basis for the clause is CC’s fitting in/happiness, and that is not an issue, then why exercise the clause unless it is purely for $$ gain.

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