To CC or not to CC? That is the question.

CC Sabathia is the most coveted pitcher on the free agent market this winter, and the Yankees figure to be one of the biggest suitors for the big lefthander. But should they be?

But is Sabathia’s innings count something to worry about? He has a big frame (6-foot-7 and about 260 lbs) which certainly seems to be able to handle the workload, having never had any major arm injuries while throwing at least 180 innings in each of his eight big-league seasons.

He’ll be 28 years old on Opening Day, entering what should be the prime years of his career. Let’s assume for a minute that he wants the same deal that Santana got (6 years/$137.5 million) from the Mets. Would it be worth it?

Sabathia would be 33 years old in the last year of that deal - hardly a candidate for retirement. In fact, he might wind up getting another long-term deal when that contract is up.

There are plenty of people who feel his size will eventually catch up with him. But why? If the arm is sound, there’s no reason to think he’ll break down. Look at the last hefty lefty to have a successful career: David Wells.

Wells came to the Yankees in 1997 at the age of 33, having thrown 427 innings over the previous two seasons and at least 187 in three of the five seasons before that. Wells went on to throw 218 and 214 1/3 in his two seasons with the Yankees, then 231 2/3 and 229 2/3 in the two seasons after that with the Blue Jays. Injuries limited him to 100 innings in 2001 with the White Sox, but Wells came back to throw 206 1/3 and 213 in 2002 and ‘03 with the Yankees at the age of 38 and 39.

Why can’t Sabathia be the same workhorse he’s been over the next five or six years? Other than natural pessimism, there’s no reason to think he can’t.

Throw in the fact that Sabathia has proven this year that he will put his team above himself - what other pitcher would ever make four straight starts on short rest in his walk year? I can’t think of one.

If signing Sabathia will take little more than a gigantic paycheck, the Yankees should do it. Unlike the Santana situation last year, they won’t have to surrender a prospect like Phil Hughes. It makes perfect sense, especially when the free-agent alternatives are A.J. Burnett and Ben Sheets.