Sabathia will not be traded this year. Or at least so says the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Should the Indians fall way out of contention before the trading deadline, Mark Shapiro may reconsider dealing CC Sabathia.

"Our priority is to win now," said GM Mark Shapiro on Thursday as spring training officially opened with pitchers and catchers reporting to camp.

Win now means keeping their best starting pitcher even though he can be a free agent after this season. Shapiro has said that all winter.

"Nothing has changed," he said.

On the other hand, the Akron Beacon Journal reports the Indians will not give up on completing a Sabathia contract extension before his impending free agency - though many in Cleveland already believe the lefty has one foot out the door.