According to C.C. Sabathia’s website, he has decided to put all contract talks on hold until after the 2008 baseball season. He says he wants to concentrate on his game.
“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.”
Some might view this as a selfish move for Sabathia. Seeing as he is about to be the most sought-after free agent available (to the Red Sox, Yankees, Angels, Dodgers and Braves) next season, CC has to maximize his value by following up his 2007 Cy Young season in 2008. Thankfully for Indians fans, these goals align nicely with the Indians trying to repeat as Central Division champs and driving to the World Series. Whether that happens or not remains to be seen.
It is a strange dichotomy for Indians fans, though. They want the team to do amazingly this season and bring home the first championship since 1948. Then again, if CC gets them there, he will almost certainly be writing his own ticket right out of town with one hell of a résumé entry. Either way, it sounds like CC will give the Indians a chance to sign him after the season. All Cleveland fans can hop is that the timing of talks will be sometime after a World Series parade in a very very cold late-autumn Cleveland.
