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Yankees Rumors: Toronto Blue Jays In On C.C. Sabathia

By Kenneth Teape

Jul 16, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia (52) pitches during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 16, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia (52) pitches during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /
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Recent New York Yankees rumors involve starting pitcher C.C. Sabathia, as the Toronto Blue Jays sent scouts to watch his last start.

New York Yankees rumors continue to swirl despite their improved play on the field. While winning five of their last six games has further clouded if they will be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline, that does not stop other teams from checking in on some of their players.

While the dynamic duo of Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman have received the most attention on the team, and with good reason, the Yankees have plenty of other players that are drawing interest as well. Outfielder Carlos Beltran could help a number of contenders, but his impending free agency could knock down a potential package for the Yankees to receive.

Another player that is reportedly receiving interest on the trade market is starting pitcher C.C. Sabathia. According to Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball and MLB Network, the Toronto Blue Jays were at Sabathia’s last start against the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday scouting the burly lefty.

Sabathia gutted out 6 2/3 innings against the Orioles on Thursday, allowing four earned runs on seven hits and one walk. He only struck out two Orioles on the evening, as he wasn’t fooling their powerful lineup very much during the night.

Heyman notes that the Blue Jays are doing their due diligence in case the Yankees decide to become sellers at the deadline, and it makes sense. Pitching is what the Blue Jays need if they are to repeat as AL East division champs, and with Aaron Sanchez destined for a bullpen spot to help keep his innings in check, the Blue Jays will need another starting pitcher eventually.

What Sabathia would the Blue Jays be getting though if they were to try and acquire him prior to the deadline? He has pitched in peaks and valleys this season, going hot and cold for extended periods of time.

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Sabathia started the season slowly, giving up exactly three earned runs in each of his first four starts, which resulted in an ERA of 5.06. He then fired off an ERA of 1.04 in May, which was part of a seven start stretch in which Sabathia gave up only four runs in 44 innings pitched.

That dropped his ERA on the season to 2.20, but Sabathia has struggled mightily since. His season ERA now is back at 4.04 after Thursday’s performance against the Orioles, as Sabathia has given up at least four earned runs in six consecutive starts, giving him an ERA of 6.85 thus far in July.

That makes Sabathia a risky target for the Blue Jays, as he can pitch strong for a period of time but see his effectiveness fall of a cliff weeks later. If he continues his current trend, they would at least be getting him on the upswing because if the pattern continues, Sabathia is ready for an upswing sooner than later.

Another potential roadblock in a deal for Sabathia is that he has veto power in his contract since he is a 10-and-5 player, meaning he has logged at least 10 seasons in the major leagues and five with the same team. If he does not want to leave the Yankees or doesn’t want to play north of the border, he doesn’t have to.

Sabathia also has a vesting option for 2017 that will cost $25 million as long as he does not have a shoulder injury this season. He has been able to remain healthy thus far, so there is a good chance that option vests, putting whichever team he is playing for on the hook for big money next season.

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Sabathia is nowhere near a $25 million player anymore, so that could torpedo his trade stock, as he will be expensive next season. But, he is a veteran with postseason experience, which could be helpful to a Blue Jays starting rotation that has only nine playoff starts with mostly underwhelming results. Sabathia doubles that number by himself, as he has made 18 postseason starts in his 16-year career.

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