Well CC Is Off The Market

The Yankees and starting pitcher CC Sabathia came to an agreement on a contract extension yesterday night to that adds $30 million and one season to his existing contract, giving him a package that pays $122 million over the next five years.

Anyone who thought that CC was going anywhere other than New York this offseason was foolish. There is no way that the Yankees were going to let this kid go. People will say that CC is going to eventually break down because of his weight and because he throws a bazillion innings a year, but not going to happen. This guy is an old school pitcher who will be able to go up there and be effective for a majority of his contract. The good news for this means that the Yankees may not overspend on other SP out there, so the Sox may get a fair shot at whoever they desire (hopefully not CJ Wilson). I say trade our whole minor leagues to Seattle for Felix but whatever.

Indians Trade For Derek Lowe

"The Indians acquired Derek Lowe from the Braves, tweets John Kreger. The Braves will pay all but $5MM of Lowe's $15MM salary, tweets ESPN's Buster Olney. Olney says the Braves will receive a second-line player in return, and ESPN's Keith Law tweets that it's an A-ball reliever (MLBTradeRumors)."

There were people who wanted the Sox to land this guy last year, and I'm glad they didn't. Derek Lowe is washed up, and I think he is going to get lit up now that he is back in the AL. Lowe, 38, posted a 5.05 ERA, and had an 8.75 ERA is September which was one of the reasons for the Braves collapse. I guess the Indians didn't give up much of anything, and paying $5 million for a starting pitcher is a pretty good deal.

Latest On Red Sox Manager Search

Cherington confirmed that the team will begin talking to candidates in the coming days, with Philadelphia Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin and Milwaukee Brewers hitting coach Dale Sveum set to interview for the job this week. The Red Sox haven't named anyone else, but I am sure there will be more. It is really hard to me to really know who would be better. I don't know anything about these guys really, but I just want this over ASAP. It's not like I can sit here and tell you I knew a lot about Francona before they hired them, so I just have to trust Cherington knows what he is doing.

I am looking forward to the rest of the offseason, and see what the Red Sox do. Who will be their 4/5 starter? Who will be their RF? Is Papelbon/Ortiz coming back? Do we want them back? Can Youk play 3B everyday? If he can't does that mean Ortiz needs to go? All of these things interest me more then the search for the manager.

Tony La Russa Retires

I am not a Tony La Russa guy at all. In fact I despise the man, however, I think he did one of the better jobs I have ever seen this year and to go out with a World Series win is pretty good. 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.

Like I said, not a big fan, but this year he did a hell of a job.