This isn't a petty signing, though. The Yankees needed Sabathia so desperately they upped their offer to include a seventh season, something the Giants also did to lure Barry Zito across the bay a couple years ago in search of their new superstar.

The Giants' flirtation with Sabathia apparently was just that. A little chitchat at a Vegas buffet is one thing. Going "all in" at the blackjack table is quite another and something the Giants couldn't do when the Yankees were playing third base at the same table.

Sabathia will get $23 million per as a Yankee. That exceeds the Zito bank account by $5 million a year, and thanks to Zito, the Giants weren't willing to go overboard again for a former American League Cy Young winner.

Zito has gotten hammered, both by batters and the media in his two seasons with the Giants. If Sabathia goes down a similar path, he'll face even more criticism than Zito has, because, well, that New York press corps is a tad different beast than us out here.

That said, Sabathia has earned his payday. Over the past three seasons combined, he's posted league-best totals in wins (48), earned-run average (3.03) and strikeouts (632).

Best wishes to the big fella. He should make sure to spend some of that coin on Warriors courtside seats when visiting your native Bay Area each winter.

Now, where do the Giants go from here? Well, Manny Ramirez is still on the market, and he wouldn't be the first costly and eccentric and moody left fielder they've ever overpaid for this decade.

He's the best hitter in Baseball, and if you're not sure whether the Giants need a potent bat, let's look at who manager Bruce Bochy is penciling in as the heart of his batting order: Pablo Sandoval, Bengie Molina, Fred Lewis and Aaron Rowand. Uggh. Say it ain't so.

As for Sabathia to the Giants' rotation: CC says it ain't so.

LINKS:

www.contracostatimes.com/sports/ci_11184140

blogs.mercurynews.com/extrabaggs/2008/12/10/injecting -160-million-ccs-of-reality/