Cleveland Sports Forum

CC Sabathia, former Cleveland Indian, will opt out of remaining 4 years of contract -- worth $92 million -- with New York Yankees

Published: Sunday, October 30, 2011, 11:18 PM Updated: Sunday, October 30, 2011, 11:36 PM


Associated Press

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- There was little doubt among most observers that CC Sabathia would leave the Cleveland Indians as a free agent following the 2008 season.

That's why Cleveland traded Sabathia -- who had won the 2007 Cy Young Award -- to the Milwaukee Brewers on July 7, 2008 for Matt LaPorta, minor league pitchers Rob Bryson and Zach Jackson and a player to be named later.

The player to be named later, announced after that season, was outfielder Michael Brantley, now 24 and one of the Indians' top players. LaPorta, then an outfielder, is now 26, playing first base for the Indians and trying to establish himself as a consistent major league hitter.

The right-handed Bryson, 23, has not yet pitched in the big leagues partly due to some arm problems, but is considered one of the top relief pitching prospects in the Cleveland system.

Jackson, a 28-year-old left-hander, went 2-3 in 12 games (10 starts) for the Indians in 2008-09. He went 13-5, though with a 5.51 ERA, for the Texas Rangers' Class AAA Round Rock Express this season.

Meanwhile, Sabathia has played the last three seasons with the New York Yankees, signing with them as a free agent after spending just the final three months of the 2008 campaign with Milwaukee.

Sabathia was 106-71 in 7 1/2 years with the Indians. Since then, he has won 70 games and lost 25.
Apparently, the large, large lefty believes he can make even more money than he's already getting.

Jon Heyman reports for Sports Illustrated's SI.com that Sabathia is planning to opt out of the rest of his contract with the Yankees by Monday night's deadline, and thus become a free agent.

Heyman writes that Sabathia:

(P)lans to opt out of his long-term contract with the Yankees by the Monday night deadline and become a free agent, SI.com has learned.

Sabathia, 31, has four years worth $92 million left on his current seven-year, $161 million deal but has the option -- until midnight Monday -- of voiding the final four years.

The Yankees have already made a new contract offer to Sabathia and remain the favorites to keep him, although the Cubs, Rangers, Tigers and Blue Jays are also considered possibilities. The Yanks' offer was made over the weekend, but no details have been announced.

LA RUSSA CALLS IT QUITS

The Cardinals scheduled a 10 a.m. ET news conference at Busch Stadium for La Russa to announce his decision.

''I think this just feels like it's time to end it,'' La Russa said.

La Russa, 67, goes out a champion after leading the Cardinals to a stirring seven-game World Series triumph over the Texas Rangers just days ago. It was his third championship. He also won the 1989 World Series with Oakland and the 2006 Series with St. Louis.

The four-time Manager of the Year won six pennants, three in the AL with the Athletics and three more in the NL with the Cardinals, and his 2,728 victories trail John McGraw by only 35 for second on the all-time managerial list.

''Other than some of the personal attachments, I feel good,'' La Russa said. ''I feel good that this is the right decision.''

La Russa said there wasn't a single factor that led to his decision, but he began having doubts about returning for 2012 midway through the season. In late August he told general manager John Mozeliak and other team officials.

La Russa said the timing of those discussions - about the time the Cardinals appeared to be out of wild card contention before their miraculous run - was pure coincidence. He said he simply felt it was time to go, a feeling that didn't change even as the Cardinals squeaked into the playoffs on the final day of the season, then upset the Phillies, Brewers and Rangers.

He spoke with little emotion at the news conference with one exception, when he paused to compose himself as he thanked his wife, Elaine, and two daughters for putting up without him over much of the past 33 years. But he did say his meeting with players after Sunday's parade and celebration was short but emotional.

''Some grown men cried,'' La Russa said, then he joked, ''I kind of liked that because they made me cry a few times.''

Mozeliak said work is under way to find a new manager for the first time since La Russa was hired prior to the 1996 season. A search committee will be formed. Mozeliak did not speculate on how long the process might take.


La Russa answered flatly, ''No,'' when asked if he'll ever manage again. He also said he had no plans to be a general manager, but said he is open to some sort of baseball job in the future.

''Maybe open a book store,'' he said.

Mozeliak said the team will have a ''long list'' of candidates for a job that will likely be considered among the best in baseball given the strong returning team - whether or not Albert Pujols decides to come back - and based on the strong fan support in St. Louis.

''There's going to be a lot of names that we'll consider,'' Mozeliak said. ''We want to do our due diligence. We want to be smart.''

Principal owner Bill DeWitt Jr. said replacing La Russa will be a tall task.

''We're not going to find a Tony La Russa out there, given his career and what he's accomplished, what he's meant to the Cardinals,'' DeWitt said. ''We're in a pretty good situation for the future. But it'll be different, no question about it.''

La Russa's decision leaves the future of his coaching staff up in the air. Mozeliak said the new manager will be given autonomy to hire his own staff or retain some or all of La Russa's. Asked about pitching coach Dave Duncan, La Russa's longtime right-hand man, Mozeliak did note that Duncan is under contract for 2012.

As for Pujols, Mozeliak noted that he has a strong relationship with the only manager he's ever played for, but doubted it would be a factor in whether the free agent first baseman stays.


''He probably understood that Tony is not going to manage forever,'' Mozeliak said.

La Russa was a .199 hitter in a brief major league career. He began as a manager with the Chicago White Sox in 1979. He guided the Oakland A's to three straight American League pennants in 1988-1990 and the 1989 World Series title over the Giants.

La Russa was hired by the Cardinals in October 1995, soon after the new ownership group purchased the team from Anheuser-Busch. His impact was immediate - the Cardinals won the NL Central and came within a game of going to the World Series in 1996, losing to the Atlanta Braves.

Overall, St. Louis went to the playoffs nine times in La Russa's 16 seasons, won pennants in 2004, 2006 and this year, and won two championships, over Detroit in 2006 and this season, rallying to win the final two games over Texas, including the memorable Game 6 when the Cardinals trailed five times and were down to their last strike in two innings. His teams were successful on the field and in the stands - the Cardinals drew 3 million fans in 13 of La Russa's 16 seasons.

La Russa, who won 2,728 regular-season games, including 1,408 with the Cardinals, said he never considered coming back simply to reach No. 2 on the all-time wins list.

''I'm aware of the history of the game, but I would not be happy with myself if the reason I came back was to move up one spot,'' La Russa said.

Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson said La Russa picked the right time to leave.

''I tip my hat to him. He's had a great career. What a way to go out,'' said Johnson, who at 68 is a year older than La Russa. ''If you're going to retire, that's the way to go out; a world champion.''

CC Sabathia, former Cleveland Indian, says on a video via Twitter that he's staying with the New York Yankees
Published: Monday, October 31, 2011, 9:38 PM Updated: Monday, October 31, 2011, 9:45 PM
By Starting Blocks

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Add another $30 million to the bonanza former Cleveland Indian -- and, apparently, still New York Yankee -- CC Sabathia has gained as one of baseball's premier pitchers.
Starting Blocks, on Sunday night, posted a report about the contract status and the career timeline of Sabathia, who signed a seven-year, $161 million contract with the Yankees as a free agent after the 2008 season.

Now, ESPNNewYork.com reports that Sabathia will stay with the Yankees:

Sabathia, who had until midnight Monday to opt out of his existing deal, announced in a video that he and the Yankees have come to terms on a contract extension that will keep the husky left-handed ace from exercising his opt-out clause and testing free agency.

"My goal the whole time was to be able to finish my career as a Yankee," Sabathia said in a video posted on Twitter. "I look forward to seeing everybody out at the ballpark next year."

The total deal is for five years and $122 million, which is instead of the four years and $92 million remaining on his original contract, a source familiar with the negotiations told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.

A little late, but didn't see it posted here:

3 Dodgers, 3 Red Sox earn Gold Gloves

Associated Press

NEW YORK -- Clayton Kershaw, Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier became the first trio of Los Angeles Dodgers to win NL Gold Gloves in the same year, and Adrian Gonzalez, Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury became the first three Red Sox in 32 seasons to win the AL honor together.

2011 Gold Glove Awards

MLB Major League Baseball and Rawlings unveiled the 2011 Gold Glove winners on Tuesday:
American League

P -- Mark Buehrle, CHW
C -- Matt Wieters, BAL
1B -- Adrian Gonzalez, BOS
2B -- Dustin Pedroia, BOS
SS -- Erick Aybar, LAA
3B -- Adrian Beltre, TEX
LF -- Alex Gordon, KC
CF -- Jacoby Ellsbury, BOS
RF -- Nick Markakis, BAL

National League

P -- Clayton Kershaw, LAD
C -- Yadier Molina, STL
1B -- Joey Votto, CIN
2B -- Brandon Phillips, CIN
SS -- Troy Tulowitzki, COL
3B -- Placido Polanco, PHI
LF -- Gerardo Parra, ARI
CF -- Matt Kemp, LAD
RF -- Andre Ethier, LAD

Kershaw became a first-time winner at pitcher when the awards were announced Tuesday. Ethier earned his first Gold Glove in the outfield and Kemp regained the NL award he also earned in 2009.

Gonzalez earned his first AL Gold Glove to go along with two he won in the NL while with San Diego, Pedroia won at second base for the first time since 2008 and Ellsbury picked up his first Gold Glove.

"I try to be a complete player. You can always go into offense slumps," Gonzalez said on "Baseball Tonight" on ESPN2.

The previous three Red Sox to win in the same year were shortstop Rick Burleson along with outfielders Dwight Evans and Fred Lynn in 1979.

Chicago White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle was the lone AL holdover, winning for the third straight year. Baltimore's Matt Wieters won at catcher, the Angels' Erick Aybar at shortstop, Texas' Adrian Beltre at third, and Kansas City's Alex Gordon and Baltimore's Nick Markakis in the outfield.

Beltre won for the third time, after gaining the award in 2007 and 2008.

The St. Louis Cardinals' Yadier Molina became the first NL catcher to win in four straight years since Charles Johnson from 1995-98.

Cincinnati first baseman Joey Votto and second baseman Brandon Phillips also won along with Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, Philadelphia third baseman Placido Polanco and Arizona outfielder Gerardo Parra. Phillips and Tulowitzki joined Molina as the NL holdovers, with Phillips winning for the third time in four years.

"It just shows my hard work really played off," Phillips told ESPN.

Polanco also won AL Gold Gloves in 2007 and 2009.

This year's AL group displaced Minnesota catcher Joe Mauer; Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira, second baseman Robinson Cano and shortstop Derek Jeter; Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria; former Rays outfielder Carl Crawford; and Seattle outfielders Ichiro Suzuki and Franklin Gutierrez.

Suzuki's streak of Gold Gloves ended at 10. The right fielder, who had won in every one of his big league seasons, had tied the AL record for Gold Gloves by an outfielder shared by Ken Griffey Jr. and Al Kaline.

Last year's NL winners included Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, Reds third baseman Scott Rolen and Colorado's Carlos Gonzalez and Philadelphia's Shane Victorino joined in the outfield by Michael Bourn, then of Houston.

Rawlings announced the winners Tuesday. Managers and coaches vote for players in their leagues and can't pick players on their own teams.

Breaking with the recent format, outfielders were picked for specific spots. The AL had Gordon in left, Ellsbury in center and Markakis in right, and the NL had Parra in left, Kemp in center and Ethier in right.

Beltre and Gonzalez each earned $100,000 bonuses, while Aybar and Markakis get $75,000 apiece. Molina, Pedroia, Polanco and Votto each receive $50,000, and Tulowitzki and Buehrle both get $25,000.

Phillips gets an automatic $250,000 raise next season to $12.25 million under the option the Reds exercised Monday.

Congratulations to Asdrubal Cabrera on his 1st Silver Slugger award:

Top boppers earn Silver Slugger Awards
McCann, Ortiz snag fifth trophies; nine hitters win for first time
By Spencer Fordin / MLB.com | 11/02/11 7:30 PM ET

The postseason honor roll expanded on Wednesday, when the American League and National League distributed Silver Slugger Awards to the best offensive players at each position. Nine players received the honor for the first time, and only six players were repeat winners from last year.

The Silver Slugger, which was first awarded in 1980, is voted on by coaches and managers from both leagues, and voters are prohibited from rewarding players on their own team. There were only five repeat winners last season, which tied for the low in the history of the award.

Both leagues had three players qualify as a repeat winner this year, and two players continued streaks that saw them win the Silver Slugger for the fourth straight season. Two players -- one from each league -- have won the Silver Slugger at their respective position five times.

Atlanta catcher Brian McCann has emerged as the dean of NL Silver Sluggers, as he won for the fourth straight time and the fifth time in his seven-year career. The 27-year-old, who tied a career high with 24 home runs, has won the Silver Slugger in all but one of his years as a full-time starter.

McCann was joined on the other side by designated hitter David Ortiz, who won the Silver Slugger for the fifth time, but it was his first since 2007. Ortiz batted .309 -- his best average since hitting .332 in '07 -- and he delivered 29 home runs and 96 RBIs for Boston, the highest-scoring team in the league.

STERLING STICKS
There were nine first-time Louisville Slugger Silver Sluggers, while Boston's David Ortiz and Atlanta's Brian McCann each picked up their fifth such honor.

American League
Pos. Player Team Silver Sluggers
1B Adrian Gonzalez BOS 1
2B Robinson Cano NYY 3
SS Asdrubral Cabrera CLE 1
3B Adrian Beltre TEX 3
OF Curtis Granderson NYY 1
OF Jose Bautista TOR 2
OF Jacoby Ellsbury BOS 1
C Alex Avila DET 1
DH David Ortiz BOS 5

National League
Pos. Player Team Silver Sluggers
1B Prince Fielder MIL 2
2B Brandon Phillips CIN 1
SS Troy Tulowitzki COL 2
3B Aramis Ramirez CHC 1
OF Ryan Braun MIL 4
OF Matt Kemp LAD 2
OF Justin Upton ARI 1
C Brian McCann ATL 5
P Daniel Hudson ARI 1

Milwaukee outfielder Ryan Braun -- who has recorded at least 30 homers and 100 RBIs for four straight years -- won a Silver Slugger for the fourth straight season. Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who won for the second straight time, was the only other repeat winner in the NL. Tulowitzki had to fend off a special season from Mets shortstop Jose Reyes, who won the batting title.

"You never run out of shelf space," said Braun. "It's always a tremendous honor. Incredible to be recognized for something like this at the end of the year and something I'm really proud of, for sure."

Toronto outfielder Jose Bautista led the Majors in home runs for the second straight season, and he fittingly received his second consecutive Silver Slugger. Other repeat winners include Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano and Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre.

Beltre, along with ex-teammate Jacoby Ellsbury, was one of two AL players who won both the Silver Slugger and the Gold Glove. Three NL players -- Tulowitzki, Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips and Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp -- pulled off that accomplishment.

"I feel like 2011 was probably my best all-around year. I won the Gold Glove, the Silver Slugger and [made] the All-Star team," said Phillips, who had previously hoped to win the Silver Slugger in 2007. "I really thought this day would never happen. I'm very happy. A lot of hard work really paid off."

Perhaps the most gratifying win came for Adrian Gonzalez, who made a highly publicized switch from the NL to the AL before the season. Gonzalez, who had been blocked by Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder in the NL, moved to Boston and led the league in hits en route to his first Silver Slugger.

Cleveland shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera came into the season with 18 career home runs, but he knocked 25 this year to set a new career high and win his first Silver Slugger. Detroit catcher Alex Avila, just 24 years old, hit 19 homers and was the youngest of the AL Silver Sluggers.

Ellsbury, who won the AL Comeback Player of the Year Award after playing in just 18 games in 2010, drilled 32 homers and knocked in 105 RBIs. The AL Silver Slugger squad was rounded out by Yankees center fielder Curtis Granderson, who led the league in runs (136) and RBIs (119).

Kemp, considered by many to be a favorite for the NL's Most Valuable Player trophy, earned his second Silver Slugger after leading the league in runs (115), home runs (39) and RBIs (126). Kemp, who turned 27 in September, won his first Silver Slugger in 2009.

Two NL teams -- Milwaukee and Arizona -- had at least two Silver Slugger Award winners. Braun was joined by Fielder, who finished second in the league in walks (107), RBIs (120) and on-base percentage (.415). Arizona was represented by outfielder Justin Upton and by pitcher Daniel Hudson, who batted .277 and paced the league's pitchers with 14 RBIs.

"This is awesome to be considered in that group of guys that have received this award this year and in the past," said Upton. "It's fun to see myself with those guys and I really appreciate the award."

Phillips, a two-time All-Star who has hit at least 18 home runs in five straight seasons, was rewarded with his first career Silver Slugger. Chicago third baseman Aramis Ramirez batted .306 and hit 26 home runs this season to win his first Silver Slugger. Washington's Ryan Zimmerman and New York's David Wright had combined to take the last four straight Silver Sluggers at third base.

Spencer Fordin is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Ex-Giant Matty Alou, 72, dies in Dominican Rep.

Matty Alou, once part of an all-Alou outfield for the San Francisco Giants with brothers Felipe and Jesus, died Thursday in his native Dominican Republic. He was 72. He died of diabetes complications, according to his former Dominican team, Leones del Escogido. The Giants also confirmed his death and said Alou had been sick for several years with a variety of health issues.

Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda said he knew his "great friend" had been ailing.

"We roomed together a few times with the Giants," Cepeda said by phone. "Very funny guy, hell of a ballplayer. When Matty was playing with the Giants, he was a dead fastball hitter, he could pull anybody, I don't care how hard they threw."

A two-time All-Star, Alou became the 1966 National League batting champion with the Pirates when he hit .342. He spent his first six years with San Francisco from 1960-65 and also played for St. Louis, Oakland, the New York Yankees and San Diego.

"Although he played for six different teams, Matty remained a part of the Giants family as a longtime employee and will be forever linked with his brothers, Felipe and Jesus,- as the first all-brother major league outfield, the Giants said.

Alou was a career .307 hitter with 31 home runs, 427 RBIs, 1,777 hits and 236 doubles in 15 major league seasons.

"He went to Pittsburgh and switched from a light bat to a heavy bat, and he hit .340 one year," Cepeda recalled.

The Alou brothers made history in 1963 when they appeared in the same outfield for several games. Felipe Alou, who managed the Giants for four seasons from 2003-06, takes pride in how the Alou name has endured in baseball.

"It's a family legacy," Felipe said during his time managing the Giants. "The Alou legacy is a legacy in itself. I see all of us together being a force going through this game, and still going. The respect, I'm proud of that, and length of service."

Leones President Luis Manuel Bonetti added: "Dominican baseball in general and Leones in particular, has lost one of its most emblematic figures and an extraordinary human being."

Felipe Alou still believes he cost the Giants a championship in 1962 when he failed to get down a bunt in the ninth inning of Game 7 of the 1962 World Series. It would have moved Matty from first to second. The Giants lost the game 1-0 and the Series to the New York Yankees.

In 2010, San Francisco finally captured the city's first title since moving west in 1958.

Why did the PHILLIES sign Thome? There is no DH in the National league, and he can't play in the field, so is he only going to be a pinch hitter?!?

I was wondering exactly the same. There's gotta be some other angle that I haven't heard yet.

Right. I mean, I know he is like a son to Chollie, but still...

Jim Thome has his $$, and can do what he wants to do.

Thome has spoken fondly of Charlie Manuel going back to their early days together in Cleveland.


Philly is not a bad place to be. I've had some good times there, though HB didn't stumble into the same experiences I have had.

Thome really wants a ring, and thinks Philly is a nice place to try to get one in 2012.

I admire him for coming back to try to hang on and get one, and try to contribute along the way.

Oh, I think everyone agrees with that.

But the Phillies paying $1.25 million to a pinch hitter? They have Ryan Howard at 1B, so Thome won't be playing there much at all - if ever. He is exclusively a DH now.

Oh well, more power to Jimmy. He said he was excited, I BET he WAS!

Remember Howard has a torn achillies. Thome is scheduled to play once a week at first.

Wed Nov 09 09:02pm EST

Wilson Ramos kidnapped: Nationals catcher missing in Venezuela

By David Brown

Wilson Ramos kidnapped: Nationals catcher missing in VenezuelaStunning and frightening news has come from Venezuela on Wednesday, where reports say Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos(notes) was kidnapped by four armed men from his mother's home. The Nationals have not commented yet, but the news was confirmed on Twitter by his winter league team, The Tigres de Aragua. Bizarrely, their Twitter feed now contains updates of the Tigres game being played today.

Reporter Mark Zuckerman of CSN Washington has been following the reports:

According to the Venezuelan newspaper El Nacional, four gunmen approached Ramos near his home in Santa Ines and took him away. Family members have informed police but have not yet heard from the kidnappers.

Ramos had not yet played this winter after appearing in 113 games with the Nationals, but he was planning to appear in some games and was spending the offseason in Venezuela, where ballplayers have been victims of kidnapping before.

Ramos has expressed concern recently about fans in the stands in Venezuela who get drunk and abusive:

"The fans in the stands, there are a lot of good ones. A lot of them understand that it's a sport," Ramos said. "But during the game when they drink and they get drunk they forget everything -- they boo you if you're not hitting, or make errors. Everybody wants to kill you."

For what it's worth, Ramos made $415,000 in 2011, his first full season in the majors. He turned 24 years old in August.

Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus has some thoughts on this, including this note: Venezuela has the highest kidnapping rate in the world.

Yahoo! Sports' own Jeff Passan reported this summer about the threat of violence in the home countries of Caribbean players in the major leagues. In 2008, a brother of Henry Blanco(notes), Carlos Blanco, was kidnapped and killed — even as Blanco was trying to arrange for his release. In '09, a son of Yorvit Torrealba(notes) was kidnapped and returned unharmed.

Then there's the saga of Ugueth Urbina. In the 1990s, his father was killed fending off a robbery. In 2004, his mother was kidnapped by drug lords who extorted money. In a tragic and bizarre turn, Urbina ended up in prison a year later for attempted murder in a case that was unrelated to his mother's kidnapping. (An earlier version of this story said Urbina's rampage was revenge. That was not the case.)

The actual site has a lot of other links regarding the above article for those interested:

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_le ... lb-wp26655

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Nats catcher Ramos kidnapped in Venezuela

By Bill Ladson and Jesse Sanchez / MLB.com | 11/10/11 12:00 AM EST

WASHINGTON --

Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos was kidnapped in Venezuela on Wednesday night, according to multiple reports from the player's home country.

The Nationals have not yet confirmed the reports.

Ramos, who was playing for Tigres de Aragua in Venezuela's Winter League, was taken from his home in Santa Ines by four armed gunmen on Wednesday evening, said Kathe Vilera, the Tigres' spokeswoman, through the team's Twitter account.

Ramos played his first full big league season and became the everyday catcher, hitting .267 with 15 home runs (a Nationals record for a catcher) and 52 RBIs.