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Yankees welcome Sabathia, Burnett to pinstripes

BY KAT O'BRIEN | kat.obrien@newsday.com

December 19, 2008

The Yankees' plan to shore up their pitching and stop being so reliant on their offense came to fruition yesterday as they ushered CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett into pinstripes.

Sabathia and Burnett were all smiles as they put on their uniforms. So was every other Yankee on hand for perhaps the final news conference at the old Yankee Stadium, including co-chairman Hal Steinbrenner, general manager Brian Cashman, manager Joe Girardi and club president Randy Levine.

Cashman said of Sabathia: "He can light up a room. I'm hoping he can light up a city."

If the Yankees get World Series championship No. 27 in 2009, as they hope, Sabathia and Burnett will have brightened up the city as much as possible. The two pitchers, who signed contracts worth a total of $243.5 million, are likely to be the final big moves for the Yankees this offseason. They may bring back Andy Pettitte on a one-year contract, but are not likely to add Mark Teixeira or Manny Ramirez.

"We are still looking at all our options," Steinbrenner said. "I think it's pretty well known there are no big offers left on the table."

Steinbrenner said he was "very excited" about adding Sabathia and Burnett. And though he did not rule out Teixeira or Ramirez entirely, the Yankees seem disinclined to add yet another huge contract. Even as Red Sox owner John Henry said last night that the Red Sox had been outbid for Teixeira, Steinbrenner wrote via e-mail that the Yankees had no offer in to Teixeira and not to expect one in the next few hours.

Cashman said on WFAN: "Ultimately we have a budget that we won't go over on our payroll. It's going to be lower than it was [in 2008], believe it or not."

The Yankees believe their pitching will be improved enough with Sabathia and Burnett to compensate for the likely loss of Bobby Abreu and Jason Giambi.

Sabathia, who was partial to returning home to California, said he took his time to make sure he chose the right team. "It was kind of a stressful deal. I was just trying to make sure I made the right decision," he said. "Being here now and coming here and seeing the way people are, I definitely made the right choice."

Cashman said he had Sabathia in his sights last winter when the Yankees decided not to trade for Johan Santana. It took some major persuading, as well as a seven-year, $161-million contract with an out clause after three years. But about 10 minutes after Cashman finished a house call to Sabathia's home outside San Francisco on Dec. 9, the lefthander called to say he was "all-in."

"Having a chance to win every year, that's really the bottom line for me," Sabathia said. "And there really was no other place to go."

Sabathia said that the Yankees always had been in his top three choices, along with the Angels (who never made an offer) and Brewers. He said that he likes the idea that he won't be "the guy" in New York, given that Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter have even bigger contracts. Sabathia plans to win and win a lot, but he also wants top-notch pieces surrounding him. He sees that in New York, particularly given that the Yankees added Burnett two days after Sabathia agreed to terms.

Burnett took much less convincing about New York. In fact, it was an advantage, given the proximity to his home in Maryland and his eagerness to taste the playoffs for the first time.

"I wanted to come to a place with a big stage," Burnett said. "I want to be on the big stage, and I want to pitch in the postseason."

Sabathia, 28, won the American League Cy Young Award in 2007 and was a combined 17-10 with a 2.70 ERA for the Indians and Brewers this year. Burnett, 31, went 18-10 with a 4.07 ERA for the Blue Jays, but was dominant within the AL East.

The Yankees now have perhaps the best rotation in the majors, headed by Sabathia, Burnett and Chien-Ming Wang, with Joba Chamberlain in the No. 4 slot and Andy Pettitte a good bet to return.

Said Girardi: "I really like our 1-2-3."

A CALL TO MANY ARMS

Ken Davidoff ranks the starting pitching acquisitions made by the Yankees from 1998-2008. Not all of the calls were Brian Cashman's (BC); George Steinbrenner (GS) pushed for some of the moves.

4 STARS