Is CC Sabathia‘s Bronx tale over? According to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, the Yankees’ ace plans to opt out of his contract and become a free agent.
Sabathia has four years and $92 million left on the seven-year, $161 million deal he signed with New York prior to the 2009 season. He has until midnight Monday to void the final four years of the contract.
The Yankees have reportedly already made a new contract offer to Sabathia and remain the favorites to retain the left-hander, but the Cubs, Rangers, Tigers and Blue Jays are also considered possibilities, Heyman reports.
This news comes less than a week after the New York media began to speculate that the Red Sox could attempt to lure the big lefty to Boston.
A Cy Young Award winner in 2007, Sabathia has gone 59-23 with a 3.18 ERA in his three seasons with the Yankees. He is 176-96 with a 3.51 ERA in his career.
The Yankees haven’t heard back regarding their new offer to Sabathia, ESPN.com reports, although an executive of the team said that he believes it’s a “very fair offer.”
