Joe Torre on CC Sabathia: ‘He’s pretty special’
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LAS VEGAS –- Calling CC Sabathia “the pearl” of free-agent pitchers, Dodgers Manager Joe Torre said he would help to recruit the left-hander if asked.
“I’d be willing to do whatever I could,” Torre said. “He’s pretty special.’
Torre said that pitching is what he considers the Dodgers’ most pressing off-season priority, especially if they start the season with a young staff that could include Chad Billingsley, Clayton Kershaw and James McDonald in the rotation. The presence of a veteran such as Sabathia at the front end of the rotation could lessen the burden on the Dodgers’ young pitchers the way Manny Ramirez did for the club’s young hitters last season, Torre said.
Torre said he met about three weeks ago with Dodgers owner Frank McCourt to discuss potential off-season targets. Asked whether he thought McCourt would be willing spend the money to sign Sabathia if he told the owner that signing the 28-year-old left-hander was absolutely necessary to be competitive, Torre replied, “I don’t know that. I really don’t know that.”
The Dodgers haven’t pursued Sabathia, at least not yet. Signing him would likely require a five- or six-year contract worth more than $100 million. Torre said he understood the risk.
“Years ago, you never even considered long-term for pitchers,” Torre said.
The three-year deal David Cone signed with the New York Yankees before the 1996 season was considered a lengthy contract at the time, Torre said.
Is Sabathia worth the risk?
“He’s obviously the best guy out there right now,” Torre said. But, he added, “It’s easy to ask the manager about players because I don’t have to pay anybody.”
Asked whether he would choose Sabathia or Manny Ramirez if he had the choice of signing one or the other, Torre declined to answer.
“That’s a great question and I’m not going to answer that,” he said. “You’re dealing with two guys that are just about at the top of their game.”
Torre said he spoke recently to Andy Pettitte, whom he managed in New York. Pettitte’s agent called the Dodgers this winter, prompting Torre to investigate the possibility of being reunited with his former player.
“We certainly have interest if he’s interested,” Torre said.
-- Dylan Hernandez