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Sabathia: I wouldn't mind coming back

Dennis Punzel  —  10/05/2008 9:58 pm

MILWAUKEE -- Don't throw that going away party for CC Sabathia just yet.

One of the presumptions ever since the Milwaukee Brewers acquired Sabathia in July has been that he was just a hired gun. His mission was to come in and help lead the Brewers to the playoffs and then move on to untold riches in the free agent market this winter. The only question was whether he'd end up in New York, where the Yankees are desperate to spend money after failing to make the playoffs this year, or in his native California, perhaps with the Los Angeles Dodgers or Angels.

But as his Brewer teammates began packing up their things following their season-ending loss Sunday to the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS, Sabathia was not prepared to say goodbye to Milwaukee just yet. While he was noncommittal about his future, he went out of his way to suggest that he would be open to signing with the Brewers.

"Who knows, maybe it's not my last appearance," said Sabathia, whose final effort of the season was as a pinch-hitter for Jeff Suppan in the third inning. "We'll see. I'll sit back this offseason and make the best decision for me and my family.

"I wouldn't mind coming back. I enjoyed my time here. These guys are great and this clubhouse is awesome. I like Dale (Sveum), I like Mad-Dog (pitching coach Mike Maddux) and I like (Jason) Kendall. We'll see."

Sabathia disputed the common assertion that his decision would be solely money-based. It has been frequently referenced that he is determined to match or surpass the six-year, $137.5 million contract that Johan Santana signed last winter with the New York Mets.

He knows he's going to get a lot of money wherever he goes, but he's also concerned about happiness. And he was clearly happy with his experience in Milwaukee, where he compiled an 11-2 record with a 1.65 earned-run average in 17 starts.

"This is an ideal environment," he said. "A young, talented team, great clubhouse, guys get along and have fun.

"That was my thing even when I was in Cleveland. I told people that I want to have fun. I like to play this game and I like to be around people I enjoy because you have to be around them for eight months of the year. That will all factor in."

Left fielder Ryan Braun, who made a long-term commitment to the Brewers early in the season, understands Sabathia's financial incentives. But he also believes the Brewers stand a fighting chance of keeping the man who quickly emerged as a team leader and statewide hero.

"He's said that the Brewers have the first opportunity, with 15 days to negotiate with him," said Braun, who signed a Brewers-record eight-year, $45 million deal in May. "I know he wants to get it over quickly and he's definitely not opposed to coming back.

"Ultimately, the players earn that type of money and it's difficult to turn down an extra $2-3 million. People say, 'What's the difference?' but if I say, 'I'm going to double your salary,' it's a big difference. He's earned the right to maximize his money and now it's up to him to decide what the deciding factors are -- whether it's location, whether it's money, whether it's opportunity to win.

"If anybody ever deserved it, it's him, just from the fact that he's young, that he's been as durable as he has. Just what he did for us, recognizing the type of money that was on the line for him, throwing on three days' rest four or five times in a row, you just don't see guys doing that these days."

The task for owner Mark Attanasio is to determine how much of the team's salary budget can it commit to one player, even one with Sabathia's attributes. On the one hand, the small-market Brewers have to be cautious about how they spend their money. On the other hand, Attanasio doesn't want to lose the momentum that was created by this year's success and led to record attendance of more than 3 million.

"It's a two-way street," said Attanasio. "If he weren't interested then there wouldn't be much for us to talk about at any price.

"I think the community has really embraced him. He's very quickly become a symbol for this team. So I'm encouraged that he would listen to something I can work on.

"We don't know how it will play out. He's had a season like no pitcher I can think of. I don't need to be talking his price up but he's just been phenomenal. He's put this team on his back. Words we've heard from some of his teammates were he's super-human, a superstar, a super-human superstar. Whatever he gets, he deserves it."

The Brewers have exclusive rights to negotiate with Sabathia until two weeks after the end of the World Series.

"We'll have a good 30 days to agonize over this," said Attanasio.

Dennis Punzel  —  10/05/2008 9:58 pm