Jered Weaver is excited to learn that he finished second in Fansided.com's AL Pitcher of the Year balloting. (Getty Images)

Around here, award season continues as a pair of Angels finished in the top five in Fansided’s voting for American League Pitcher of the Year. Tiger stud Justin Verlander ran away with the title, but LA’s one-two punch of Jered Weaver and Dan Haren were the highest ranking teammates in the annual award, finishing second and fifth respectively. Clayton Kershaw’s Triple Crown performance earned him the award in the National League. Jose Valverde and Craig Kimbrel took home the hardware for relievers.

Justin Verlander was the clear, unanimous winner and rightly so. He’s the current definition of a horse leading the league  in innings, wins, ERA and strikeouts. Opposing hitters often had no chance to connect as he struck out nearly 9 batters a game and even when hitters made contact Verlander’s BABIP, a league-leading .223, suggests that the could not connect solidly. He allowed less than a runner per inning to reach base (the only starter in the AL to do so), and nearly swept every relevant AL category, finishing second only to C.C. Sabathia in xFIP 3.12 to 3.02. Verlander finished with every one of the possible 231 points in the AL Pitcher of the Year voting.

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Do the Angels have room for C.C. Sabathia's XXXL uniform on their books? (Getty Images)

Speculation continues to mount as to whether or not C.C. Sabathia will return to the Bronx next season. Both Harold Reynolds of the MLB Network and ESPN analyst Bobby Valentine have commented during their respective television spots recently that the large left-hander may choose to opt out of his contract and look to pitch elsewhere. Sabathia, whose Yankees were eliminated from the playoffs following last night’s 3-2 loss in the ALDS to Detroit, has given no indication as of yet whether he will exercise his option or not. This does raise the question, however, as to where C.C. would fit best in 2012. Let’s take a look at some of his options:
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