SI writer Jon Heyman leads his latest rumor and notes column with speculation from an unnamed executive that San Francisco is Vallejo native C.C. Sabathia’s first choice as a free-agent landing spot.
Heyman then hems and haws about how questionable this scenario is and ends up tabbing the Yankees as the early favorites because, duh, it’s going to come down to money. It’s a fine way to turn a bottom-of-the-column item (speculation from an anonymous “executive who knows [Sabathia] well”) into a headline in the dog days of August.
The only conceivable way the Giants go after Sabathia is 1) if they unload Zito and the rest of his contract and 2) Sabathia agrees to some kind of hometown discount. Ain’t neither likely to happen, girlfriend.
Losing the chance to go after Sabathia: yet another feather in the dunce cap of the Zito contract. But one could argue that overbidding for C.C.’s services, which will likely cost more than Johan Santana’s extension cost the Mets (6 years, $137.5 M), is a foolish endeavor, too.
Pretend Zito wasn’t a Giant. Would you want the Giants to go after Sabathia? Is there any way this team could keep Zito and sign Sabathia? Discuss.
