Yanks, Sabathia agree on deal
The Yankees are finalizing a one-year deal with the veteran lefty CC Sabathia, the New York Daily News confirmed Tuesday. Sabathia is a free agent who will be entering his 19th season and 11th with the Yankees.
Before Sabathia started Game 4 of the ALDS against the Red Sox, he mused about his future in the league, expressing a desire to continue pitching, whether it be in the Bronx or elsewhere.
“I’ll play anywhere,’’ he said at the time. “I still want to pitch. I definitely can still get guys out. I’ll play for whoever needs me.’’
GM Brian Cashman, however, said Monday at the start of GMmeetings in California that he wanted to re-sign Sabathia and it was a priority for him to get it done so quickly.
The one-year deal is for $8 million, according to reports.
Mets coaching moves: Brodie Van Wagenen made his first public moves as New York Mets general manager, firing hitting coach Pat Roessler along with bullpen coach Ricky Bones on Monday and announcing manager Mickey Callaway will have a new bench coach.
After meeting for two days with Callaway last week, Van Wagenen said bench coach Gary DiSarcina will replace thirdbase coach Glenn Sherlock, who will shift to first-base coach.
New York went 77-85 in Callaway’s first season as a manager.
Former Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., who had been first-base coach, will become a front office adviser to the 44year-old Van Wagenen.
Nationals went hard after Harper: The Washington Post reported that the Nationals offered Bryce Harper a long-term deal on the last day of the season. He did not take it.
According to multiple people familiar with the negotiations, the Nationals discussed terms for a new deal with Harper and his agent, Scott Boras, throughout September. Those conversations led to what one person called “an aggressive offer.”
That offer included no opt-outs, and was less than the $400 million some have speculated Harper could receive.
People on both sides of those conversations have incentive to suggest it was a hefty sum: The Nationals have incentive to dispel any notion of their frugality with a legitimate offer. Team Boras has incentive to suggest Harper already has an unprecedented offer on the table, so as to generate even larger ones from other teams.
Team news: Astros righthander Lance McCullers Jr. will miss all of next season following Tommy John surgery. The 25-year-old was 10-6 with a 3.86 ERA in 22 starts and three relief appearances this year, striking out142 in 128 1/3 innings. He was 10-4 before the All-Star break, then went on the disabled list from Aug. 5 to Sept. 24 because of elbow discomfort. … The Reds hired Turner Ward from the Dodgers as their hitting coach.