CC Sabathia required two words to describe being a World Series winner rather than copping a second Cy Young award.
“Much happier,” the Yankees’ ace lefty wrote in a text message yesterday after Kansas City’s Zach Greinke was named this year’s AL Cy Young winner.
Sabathia, who received 13 points but no first-place votes, wasn’t shocked at the outcome.
“I wasn’t surprised at all,” Sabathia said of Greinke winning. “He definitely deserved it. He had a 2.16 ERA in the American League. I don’t care how many wins you have, that’s pretty good.”
Greinke went 16-8 and led the majors in ERA for the woeful Royals and gathered 25 first-place votes among the 28 ballots. Seattle’s Felix Hernandez (19-5; 2.49 ERA) was second with two first-place votes and Detroit’s Justin Verlander (19-9; 3.45) was third with one first-place vote.
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If the Yankees return Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes to the rotation, they are going to need bullpen help. Should they be interested in free agent relievers Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano, late of the Braves, the Yankees are going to find their blood rivals in the race.
According to sources, the Red Sox asked the Braves for the medical reports on Gonzalez and Soriano, neither of whom fits into the Braves’ plans because they are too expensive.
Gonzalez made $3.45 million this past season, Soriano $6.35 million.
The left-handed Gonzalez, whom the Yankees attempted to acquire from the Pirates following the 2006 season, appeared in 80 games, going 5-4 with a 2.42 ERA, and converted 10 of 17 save chances. Soriano, 29, was 1-6 with a 2.97 ERA in 77 games and fanned 102 in 75 2/3 innings. He converted 27 of 31 save chances.
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The Yankees declined a $1.25 million option on right-hander Sergio Mitre yesterday and paid him a $200,000 buyout. The Yankees control Mitre’s rights and he is eligible for arbitration.
Elevated from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on July 21, Mitre went 3-3 with a 6.79 ERA in 12 games (nine starts).