MLB

CC’s contract will put Yankees in tough spot

DETROIT — The Yankees face yet another Cliff Lee problem this offseason.

Had they signed Lee last winter, the Yankees would have an ace-level starter under contract and not feel the need to do anything possible to keep CC Sabathia when he opts out of his contract after the World Series.

But in the worst possible combination, the Yankees failed to land Lee despite making a seven-year, $146 million offer that creates a benchmark that the Sabathia camp will probably demand be matched — at the least.

Those two factors provide the backdrop for the Yankees’ biggest issue of the offseason. If they don’t retain Sabathia, then who does this win-now team use as its ace in 2012? But to retain Sabathia, the Yankees may have to go to contract lengths that make even them squeamish; especially because of how Sabathia has looked both on the field and in his uniform late this season.

Some quick background: Sabathia signed a seven-year, $161 million contract with the Yankees after the 2008 season. After three years, Sabathia can void the rest of his deal and elect free agency. That is this year and he has until three days after the World Series to opt out.

He has four years at $92 million left on his contract. In the past, he had said he had no intentions of invoking his right to leave. But, beginning in spring training, Sabathia stopped saying that and his non-answers since suggest both that he will opt out — and, of course — the belief that he can do much better than four years at $92 million.

However, in his final 10 starts of the regular season, Sabathia had a 4.06 ERA and a .316 batting average against. He then did not distinguish himself in Monday night’s Game 3 either. No pitcher has thrown more innings the past five years than Sabathia. Plus, after losing weight for spring training, Sabathia seemed to put it all back and more during the season — a troubling sign since this was a walk year and, generally in walk years, players get in the best shape possible.

His bulk of innings and body would make even the remaining four years worrisome. One Yankee official said of Sabathia, “he’s got a troublesome body.”

When asked directly yesterday about Sabathia’s size, Yankees GM Brian Cashman said, “I don’t think this is the right time to talk about this stuff.”

Asked generally if he was worried about Sabathia’s late-season fade, Cashman said, “No, I don’t look at two months, especially since there were factors like we were using a six-man rotation. He’s one of the better pitchers in the game. I hope he stays, but really it is a conversation for another day.”

Of course, the Yankees already have begun the conversation, internally registering the lack of available aces to replace Sabathia should he leave.

The Yankees like Yu Darvish, but there is expected to be significant bidding to win the post for him with the Rangers, Blue Jays, Nationals and Mariners also involved. Plus, would Darvish really be able to quickly translate from Japan to the United States as an ace? The Yankees view the best American free agent, C.J. Wilson, as more of a No. 2 starter. There is little anticipation that a true ace such as Seattle’s Felix Hernandez will come on the trade market; with the more likely possibilities being good, but not ace, pitchers such as the A’s Gio Gonzalez, the White Sox’s John Danks and the Marlins’ Ricky Nolasco.

Sabathia’s agents certainly see the landscape, plus they know what the Yankees were willing to do for Lee as a 32-year-old last offseason. Sabathia is 31 now and could rightfully claim he is younger and — as opposed to Lee — has already helped the Yankees win a World Series, so he deserves no less than seven years at $146 million. The Yankees could counter that Lee ultimately signed for five years at $125 million where he wanted to be (Philly). And all signs are that Sabathia wants to be in The Bronx — he has transplanted his family full time to New Jersey and insisted he loves the area and being a Yankee.

I think the Yankees would do the five years at $125 million to keep him. But could he get more? The Nationals and Rangers would be interesting wild cards. Would the Yankees go higher? Maybe. Last offseason, when they felt they might be slipping behind the Red Sox, they desperately reached out to overpay Rafael Soriano.

But up and down the organization there is now regret about giving Alex Rodriguez a record 10-year extension when he opted out, and a sense that they would never overdo it in that scenario again.

Which makes this offseason all the more interesting. Another Cliff-hanger.

joel.sherman@nypost.com