Brewers Setting the Bar High for Sabathia

If the Angels are to pursue free-agent pitcher CC Sabathia, they better be prepared to spend a lot of money. Earlier today, the Milwaukee Brewers reportedly made quite a large offer, especially for a small-market team, to the left-hander that is worth $100 million over five years.

According to Bill Plunkett of the OC Register, that would put Sabathia number two on this list of the highest-paid pitchers in all of baseball (by annual value over the length of their contracts). Honestly, I don’t think that the Brewers are going to land CC. All the offer really does is satisfy Milwaukee’s fans that their team is at least making somewhat of an attempt to keep Sabathia in the Cheese State. In reality it simply sets the bar for a bidding war that is sure to go even higher after November 13 when Sabathia’s agent is able to solicit offers from other teams. I still think that he is headed to New York to play for the Yankees but look for either the Angels or Dodgers to pursue him as well.

In Plunkett’s blog post he also assembled a list of the highest-paid pitchers. Check it out:

Johan Santana, $22,916,667 (2008-13)

Carlos Zambrano, $18,300,000 (2008-12)

Barry Zito, $18,000,000 (2007-13)

Jake Peavy, $17,333,333 (2010-12)

Andy Pettitte, $16,000,000 (2008)

Jason Schmidt, $15,666,667 (2007-09)

Mike Hampton, $15,125,000 (2001-08)

Roy Oswalt, $14,600,000 (2007-11)

Mark Buehrle, $14,000,000 (2008-11)

John Smoltz, $14,000,000 (2008)

Roy Halladay, $13,333,333 (2008-10)

Pedro Martinez, $13,250,000 (2005-08)

Randy Johnson, $13,000,000 (2007-08)

Chris Carpenter, $12,700,000 (2008-11)

Bronson Arroyo, $12,500,000 (2009-10)

Kevin Millwood, $12,000,000 (2006-10)