Free agent CC meets with Jays
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — CC Sabathia’s desire to remain a Yankee has been alive for a long time, but the veteran lefty is exploring other options. Sabathia, a free agent, has spoken to the Angels and Tuesday he and his representatives met with the Blue Jays. The common factor in the 37year-old Sabathia speaking to the Angels and Blue Jays is the fact he is familiar with the men running each club. Angels general manager Billy Eppler was Brian Cashman’s assistant general manager from 2011 to 2015 when Sabathia was a mainstay in the Yankee rotation. Mark Shapiro, the Blue Jays’ president and CEO, was the Indians’ GM in 2001, which was Sabathia’s first year in the big leagues. Ross Atkins, the Blue Jays’ GM, was the head of Cleveland’s player development starting in 2006. Sabathia said often during the regular season his first choice was to remain with the Yankees. However, as Christmas approaches, the Yankees haven’t struck a deal with Sabathia, who went 14-5 with a 3.69 ERA in 27 starts last season. After making $25 million last year, it has been speculated Sabathia would fall into the one-year deal in the $8 million-$10 million range. Cashman, who said Tuesday the Yankees are looking for starting pitching, has spoken to Sabathia’s representatives and new manager Aaron Boone has had contact with him. “He is one of the guys I reached out to early in this job mostly because I’ve had a relationship with him for a long time,” Boone said Tuesday. “He’s somebody that I have so much respect for and is obviously so important to the New York Yankees franchise. So I know we’re going to have conversations with him. Whether it becomes a fit or not, we’ll see in the coming days.’’