While the Yankees blamed their idle October on a drop-off in offense, they had more to fix in the rotation. As free agency began, only Chien-Ming Wang was a sure thing. Joba Chamberlain is ticketed to start, but his turn will have to be skipped at times since the Yankees are stubbornly determined to limit his workload to about 150 innings. And many in the clubhouse still want to see Chamberlain set up Mariano Rivera.

The Yankees learned a lesson from their biggest mistake of 2008: counting on too much unproven, young pitching. They handed Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy spots in their rotation out of spring training, and those two combined to go 0-8 with a 7.45 ERA in 17 starts.

So the Yankees are determined to fill their rotation with proven commodities, and Sabathia tops the list.

This is a guy who, if there were still just one Cy Young Award for both leagues, would have won the past two. Over the 2007-08 seasons, Sabathia led the majors in strikeouts (460) and innings (494) and was second in wins (36) — and he won't be 29 until July 21.

It wasn't going to be easy to get Sabathia to New York. He wanted to play in his native California. He wanted to play in the National League; after being traded to Milwaukee, he loved hitting so much he took batting practice of some sort every day (and batted .229).

So the Yankees offered him the richest-ever contract for a pitcher on the first day they could legally discuss financial terms. They met with him twice in Las Vegas and, when more face-to-face was required, general manager Brian Cashman left the winter meetings to meet again Tuesday night in California.

Economy? Bah! Money would not be an issue. The Yankees have their branch of the U.S. Mint — i.e., the new edifice in the Bronx — and as much as $88 million coming off their payroll (depending on whether Andy Pettitte agrees to a pay cut or bolts).

So the Yankees added a seventh year to the deal. And an opt-out clause.

If Sabathia had wanted more, they Yankees would have found more. They toyed with trading for Bill Hall, who became close to Sabathia in Milwaukee.

A life-size Sabathia balloon in the Thanksgiving Day Parade? Sure! Name a school after him? We have CCNY!

But will the full-court press pay off?

Sabathia clearly was reluctant to commit to the Big Apple and its big spotlight, and it took a sales job as much as dollars to persuade him. One wonders how soon regret might seep in.

History shows that it's impossible to predict who will thrive in the Yankees circus. Small-town guy Mike Mussina flourished. Andy Hawkins, Kenny Rogers and Randy Johnson couldn't deal with it.

Will Sabathia (1-4 with an 8.61 ERA in five career starts at Yankee Stadium) belong with Jimmy Key, David Wells and Roger Clemens — or with Javier Vazquez, Carl Pavano and Kevin Brown?

Guess we'll find out in three years, when the opt-out window would open.

Obviously, the Yankees are willing to chance it.

"He knows what New York is about," manager Joe Girardi said after meeting Sabathia. "He's been in American League long enough to know what New York is about.

"And CC's personality I think would work very well here. He's a guy that wants the ball every fifth day, he's a stand-up guy, he's a very honest young man. So I think his personality will be great."

The Yankees won't stop at CC. Derek Lowe wanted to know the Yankees' plan to return to championship form, and now he has an idea. A.J. Burnett and Ben Sheets are on the radar. The Yankees could also add a veteran center fielder.

Just as important is getting the offense back in gear after it dropped from 968 runs in 2007 to 789 last season — and will lose the Nos. 3 and 5 hitters, Bobby Abreu and Jason Giambi.

That means returns to health for Jorge Posada and Hideki Matsui, rebounds by Robinson Cano, Nick Swisher, Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter and production from Xavier Nady.

But it had to start with Sabathia. The Yankees have to have him.

As the song goes, "Whatever Lola wants, Lola gets."

That, by the way, is from "Damn Yankees."

New York Yankees News News » Yankees needed to get Sabathia
Yankees needed to get Sabathia
LAS VEGAS - The Yankees went into this offseason with a huge hole in their starting rotation. It must have been a 6-foot-7, 290-pound hole, since only one man could fill it. The Yankees know they have to sign CC Sabathia. Missing the playoffs in 2008, for the first time in 15 years, was unacceptable. And although the new Yankee Stadium is a palace, fans paying the New York-sized ticket prices there in this economy will expect success as much as luxury. MLB Winter Meetings