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| WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- The Indians' chances of re-signing ace C.C. Sabathia haven't completely died, but somebody better call a medic. Shortly before he posted a message on his official Web site Wednesday night, Sabathia, the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner, who is eligible for free agency after the '08 season, told the Indians what he was about to tell the rest of the world: The negotiation's off. "At this time," Sabathia's statement reads, "we haven't been able to reach agreement. Now that the reporting date for Spring Training is here, it is time to put aside contract discussions so that I can focus all of my energies and attention on preparing for the upcoming season." With that, an issue that was expected to be the primary subplot of the Indians' spring camp, which kicked off Thursday at the Chain of Lakes complex, suffered a succinct and swift cessation. Sabathia was not due to check into camp until Thursday evening and won't be available to reporters until Friday. In the meantime, the rest of his statement reads as follows: "I look forward to a successful 2008 season, both for myself and for the Indians as a whole. I will do everything within my power to help the club to its first World Series appearance since 1997 and its first World Series Championship since 1948. "There will be time after the season for the Indians and my representatives to discuss my contract status. I remain hopeful that these discussions will result in a contract extension that will keep me with the franchise for many years to come. In the meantime, in order to avoid any distractions, my representatives and I will not make any further comment about my contractual situation beyond this statement." The Indians made a contract proposal to Sabathia over the winter that was believed to be a four-year extension, through 2012, with an average annual value between $17 and $18 million. Their intent was to create a deal comparable to the extensions recently signed by the Padres' Jake Peavy and the Cubs' Carlos Zambrano. But Sabathia's contract situation was made significantly more complicated when former Twins left-hander Johan Santana, a two-time Cy Young Award winner with similar career credentials to those of Sabathia, signed a six-year, $137.5 million deal (with $5 million deferred annually) with the Mets. That deal might set the standard for what Sabathia can command in free agency. Tribe general manager Mark Shapiro said he was willing to negotiate with Sabathia throughout the '08 season, if need be. But this latest development doesn't bode particularly well for the Tribe's chances of holding onto their ace. Still, Shapiro said he viewed Sabathia's decision as a "cordial business interaction" that, he stressed, doesn't ruin the Indians' best-laid plans. "The time now is to focus on the season," Shapiro said. "There's not enough common ground to negotiate into the season. It's best for both parties to wait until the end of the season." Spring Training News and features: • Tribe notes: Reaction to Clemens hearings • Sabathia, Tribe put off extension talks • Familiar Tribe faces hit Winter Haven • Indians sign Elarton to Minor League deal • Indians must be mentally strong in 2008 • Indians Spring Training quick hits Multimedia: • Wedge talks about starting camp • Shapiro discusses Sabathia's situation • Castrovince on Sabathia 400K • Castrovince talks Sabathia 400K Spring Training info: • MLB.com coverage | Schedule | Ballpark | Tickets Shapiro has made it clear the Indians have no intention of trading Sabathia during the season, unless they fall out of contention by the July trading deadline. So assuming the Indians do hold onto Sabathia for the length of the year, they would have an exclusive 15-day negotiating period with him after he files for free agency this fall. "We will never close the door on C.C. at any juncture," Shapiro said, before adding with a smile, "unless he signs with another club and it becomes tampering." Sabathia apparently didn't want his contract status to tamper with his season. Then again, he will inherently face the distraction that comes with a year in which free-agent value hangs in the balance. Manager Eric Wedge said he is unconcerned about his ace's mind-set. "C.C. does a good job of separating the business side of the game," Wedge said. "He's a great teammate, and he knows what he needs to do to be successful. He understands the process in regards to his ability to handle things." The Indians' hope was to work out a deal with Sabathia this spring, but it became increasingly clear in recent weeks that such a timeframe wasn't realistic. Shapiro said he can't see a scenario in which negotiations would pick back up before season's end. "There's no animosity," Shapiro said. "We actually understand and appreciate his desire to focus on the season. That's a good thing for this team." The 27-year-old Sabathia has some high standards to live up to this season. He's coming off a year in which he went 19-7 with a 3.21 ERA and became the Tribe's first Cy Young Award winner since Gaylord Perry in 1972. "The best-case scenario," Shapiro said, "is he has a great year, we have a great year, and we both have greater opportunity to have common ground." |
| QUOTE (zackboomer @ Feb 14 2008, 07:00 PM) |
| What do you think of these articles? |
| QUOTE (YankeeKing44 @ Feb 14 2008, 07:02 PM) |
| What :wacko: |