CC Sabathia To Exercise “Opt-Out” Clause Next Winter

If the New York Yankees want to keep CC Sabathia they will be battling for him on the high-priced open market. When the 30-year-old ace signed his seven-year, $161 million contract with the Yankees he was given the option to opt-out of the remaining four years and $92 million on that contract, making him eligible as a free agent.

An executive for another team who chose to remain anonymous told SI.com’s Jon Heyman that Sabathia will “100 percent” use that opt-out clause after the current season ends.

When Sabathia signed his contract it was the richest in MLB history and since the Yankees need to obtain their star ace he’s expected to receive an even more lucrative deal to from Hank Steinbrenner and the Yankees to ensure they retain his services for years to come.

Expectations are that Sabathia could easily add another two to three years to his current contract at $23 million per season (his current annum), although the Yankees may push up his yearly earnings to sweeten the deal.

For that extension and price the Yankees would retain one of the best southpaw pitchers in the league who is currently 4-3 with a 3.06 ERA (2.80 FIP) in 10 starts.

[photo credit: chris.ptacek]