CC Sabathia: Yankees, Not Red Sox, Are Team to Beat in AL East

by Pat Lackey

Filed under: Red Sox, Yankees, AL East, MLB Hot Stove

The list of people impressed with the moves made by the Boston Red Sox this winter might be a long one, but it doesn't include CC Sabathia.

The "at least as things stand this morning with Cliff Lee still deliberating" ace of the Yankees was asked who was the favorite in the AL East and he told the New York Daily News, "I think the Yankees. If you look in our clubhouse and look at our lineup and the things we can do, it's hard not to like our chances." He also expressed faith that GM Brian Cashman would be making some headlines of his own in the near future.

This is typical offseason talk and it's a little hard to take it too seriously, but remember that the Yankees aren't even the defending AL East Champion. That honor belongs to the Tampa Bay Rays. Carl Crawford, arguably their second-best player in last year's division run, signed with the same Red Sox team that finished just six games behind the Yankees last year. And that's without mentioning Adrian Gonzalez or the rash of injuries suffered by the Red Sox last year.

Things change if they sign Lee, of course, but liking their chances right now? The Red Sox have gotten a lot better while the Yankees are the same team that didn't win their division and didn't win the AL pennant in 2010. Lee would help change things, but even then he's just one guy in a rotation that might need a lot of help if Andy Pettitte doesn't come back. Of course there's a lot of time between now and Opening Day, but if I were to say that I liked the Yankees' chances for anything in 2011, it'd be the wild card.

 

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