What if the Yanks really DID pull their offer to CC and stuck by it? (I don't think that's going to happen, but play along for a moment) According to a contact of Bill Maddon from the Daily News, it could be the professional death of Sabathia's agent:
According to industry sources, it was Genske and not Cashman who asked for the meeting, although the Yankee GM is just as anxious to find out Sabathia's intentions now that the big lefty has had a couple of weeks to mull the six-year, $140 million offer that would make him the highest-paid pitcher in history. The reason Genske wanted the meeting, said one source, is that the agent is trying to buy more time for another team more to Sabathia's liking to approach the Yankee bid.
With each passing day, the likelihood of that lessens considerably. "(Genske) has to be concerned about them pulling the offer and moving on to the other (free agent) pitchers," the source said. "If he blows this deal, he's dead as an agent. For one thing, who's going to approach that $140 million if the Yankees are out of it? Sabathia winds up with a deal $20 million less than Barry Zito? Like I said, (Genske's) dead."
Also in Maddon's article, he hints that Cashman might go to a 5th year on Burnett, if need be. This must be spooking Genske. And they like Sheets, too. And they make and spend a lot of money. And the sun rises in the East.
Now that the Atlanta Braves have established the A.J. Burnett market at four years, $15 million per with an easily attainable vesting fifth-year option, it is believed the Yankees now were willing to go a fifth year for the oft-injured righty. Similarly, they were prepared to make a multiyear offer to Ben Sheets, who has a far worse injury history than Burnett.
"There's nothing more ominous for all the clubs here operating in this economy than the Yankees being desperate for pitching," said one agent Sunday night. "They don't seem to care what it costs them to get it."
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8 comments:
I have enjoyed reading your articles you have a nice talent. The picture of the golden goose is wonderful.
Thanks so much, CS3, for the kind words. As for the picture, thank goodness for Google Images.
I get how it would be bad for the agent, but he doesn't get to decide. The Yanks could offer a trillion dollars, but the agent couldn't make the player take the deal if the player just flat out didn't want to play there. So while some people may see it as the agent f'ing things up, I think it's more the agent can't make his client do anything he doesn't want to do. For me personally, it makes the agent look better, because he did what his client wanted(which is why I respect Matt Sosnick so much, it seems like he genuinely cares for his clients).
Couldn't the Yanks pulling the offer be the best case for CC? If he doesn't want to play in NY then the team pulling the offer means he doesn't have to turn down all that money.
Alex, fair question. I'll answer it this way: If the player makes the call NOT to take the biggest offer, that's one thing. If the team making the largest offer for a pitcher (in terms of TOTAL dollars, not AAV) pulls the offer before your client can accept it, that's a hefty omelette on the agent's face.
I wonder if Juan Gonzalez had an agent when he turned down Detroit's 8 year, $140 million dollar contract in 2001. Imagine that, Juan Gonzalez would STILL be under contract by the Tigers today had he signed that.
Jason, I understand what you're saying, but I guess I just don't totally agree. It's not like the deal hasn't been on the table for a couple weeks now (and it probably will be there for at least another month) so I don't get how it would be the agents fault if CC doesn't take it. It's one thing if the client doesn't know about the deal and doesn't have time to weigh his options, but EVERYONE knows about this offer. So, to me, it seems like the agent has done his job and it's up to his client now.
The agents are not at fault if he doesn't take it; they're at fault if the Yanks pull the offer and CC signs a deal much lower than the Yanks bid.
Semantics, I know. And also completely improbable.
I think we're just going to have to agree to disagree. I just feel like the agent has done his job on the Yankees front. The only way I see the agent being at fault is if CC signs a smaller deal with another east coast (specifically northeast)team.
That makes me think about how funny it would be if he went to the Mets or Red Sox for less money, how many Yankees fans heads would explode?
Fair enough, Alex. And to answer your last question: ALL OF THEM!
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