CC Sabathia

Speaking of starting pitchers…

The major road block keeping Jake Peavy from being sent to Chicago is the Cubs inability to trade RHP Jason Marquis to a third team, along with the $10 million due to him in 2009, reports the Chicago Sun-Times.

Remember, on Sunday in the Star-Ledger, Dan Graziano said the Mets declined to trade Marquis for Aaron Heilman, ‘because they were trying to use Heilman in other deals.’

Meanwhile, the Cubs have discussed trading infielder Mark De Rosa to the Twins, reports the Star Tribune, most likely in an effort to cut payroll, again for Peavy.

Also, the Phillies are involved in talks with the Cubs and Padres, writes the Philadelphia Daily News, with Kyle Kendrick’s name being linked to San Diego.

Sabathia’s deal from the Yankees is now worth $160 million over seven years, according to Buster Olney of ESPN, Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com and Jon Heyman of SI.com

‘Sabathia is still talking to the Yankees,’ said Olney on ESPN’s Mike and Mike in the Morning, adding, ‘They have not yet reached a preliminary agreement.’

Original, 7:07 AM:

“CC Sabathia is going to be a Yankee,” writes Joel Sherman in an exclusive report for the New York Post.

Sabathia agreed to a six-year, $140 contract last night, following three straight days of meetings with Yankees GM Brian Cashman, according to Sherman’s report.

This morning on ESPN’s Mike and Mike in the Morning, Sherman said, ‘the Yankees are trying to corner the market,’ as they have made the highest offer to A.J. Burnett, they have met with Scott Boras about Derek Lowe, and have been sent medical reports on Ben Sheets, who they met with in Vegas.

According to Sherman, the Yankees want a rotation with power arms, despite the injury risk associated with such a plan.

…why do you care…

Now that Sabathia has locked in with the Yankees, setting the off-season bar for pitchers, people in baseball expect players like Burnett, Lowe, Sheets and others to begin signing as well.

According to Davidoff, “It is believed to be a good sign for the Yankees that Sabathia is seeing them for a third straight day.”

During an appearance on WFAN, SI.com’s Jon Heyman said there are currently no teams from California in the bidding for Sabathia.

Heyman believes Mark Teixeira remains the Angels top target, and they will not target Sabathia.

Giants GM Brian Sabean told reporters that Sabathia is a ‘fall-back position,’ for the Giants, according to Mercury News.

…umm, how is a pitcher who will require a six-year, $140 million deal a fall-back…unless, of course, sabean is investing that money in a time machine, which he will use to bring back Christy Mathewson…then, i understand what he means…

According to Baggerly, while the Brewers are considered the front runners, “the Giants had discussions with Sabathia’s camp last night, and they expect to have face-to-face meetings with the left-hander in San Francisco after the winter meetings.”

Meanwhile, in a post to the Los Angeles Times, Tony Jackson describes the Giants as ‘supremely confident that they are going to sign Sabathia.’

…the buzz in baseball for quite some time now has been that sabathia was eyeing the Dodgers or Giants the entire time…it appears he may get his wish…

At the same time, suddenly, the Yankees are being more aggressive in their pursuit of Derek Lowe and A.J. Burnett, reports Joel Sherman on his blog for the New York Post.

Update, 5:40 PM:

According to ESPN’s Baseball Tonight, the Yankees deny reports that Sabathia rejected their offer.

Speaking of starting pitchers…

Jon Heyman of SI.com believes ‘the Phillies and Yankees are two most prominent contenders for star free-agent pitcher Derek Lowe, who seeks at least a five-year deal for about $80 million.’

In a report for FoxSports.com, Ken Rosenthal says he would not be surprised to see Burnett get a five-year, $100 million deal from the Yankees.

According to Peter Gammons on ESPN’s Baseball Tonight, the Braves are still the front runners to sign Burnett, and could eventually guarantee him the fifth year.

Lastly, some reports suggest the Cubs are close to trading for Jake Peavy, while others suggest they are not – for details, check out MLB Trade Rumors.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox sat down with Sabathia yesterday to talk about the structure of a deal, says Jon Heyman at SI.com.

Meanwhile, WFAN’s Mike Francesca, a.k.a., ‘the biggest Yankee fan,’ is on air during his popular drive-time radio show, freaking out about Sabathia.

Basically, Francesa believes Sabathia is embarrassing the Yankees, by taking so long to accept their six-year, $140 million deal.

“Shut up,” Francesa is saying, “Enough already, why does this guy need to be sold on the Yankees.”

According to Francesa, “Sabathia is not Johan Santana,” the Yankees should give up at this point and move on.

He has received several phone calls from listeners who feel the same with, with one saying, “He should be honored to be on the Yankees.  If he doesn’t get it, then go home.”

…it’s just so funny…Yankee fans just can’t believe a professional baseball player would consider signing with another team, let alone for less money…i love it…

To listen live to WFAN from your computer, click here.

Yesterday, ESPN’s Peter Gammons said talks between the Braves and Burnett are progressing well.

However, according to Jon Heyman at SI.com, ‘The Yankees are prepared to top Atlanta’s reported $60 million, four-year offer to Burnett.’

Meanwhile, according to Olney, only the Yankees and Brewers have made an offer to CC Sabathia, i.e., the Dodgers, Giants and Angels have not.

Also, Olney believes Padres GM Kevin Towers is bluffing when he says San Diego will keep Jake Peavy for Opening Day if he’s unable to trade him before the end of this week’s Winter Meetings.

Nevertheless, the Cubs need young starting pitchers from a third team to help acquire Peavy from the Padres, says Olney.

According to Ken Rosenthal, of FoxSports.com, the Phillies are working with the Cubs and Padres as the third team.

By the way, again, ESPN 2 will air a Baseball Tonight Winter Meetings Special today at 5 pm.

Instead, writes Rosenthal, free-agent RHP Jon Garland is on the team’s radar, ‘and would fit the back of their rotation.’

Last week, in the Daily News, John Harper said the Mets had interest in Garland as well, while also trading for a fifth starter to compete with Jon Niese in spring training.

…as i have said, garland would actually be a really good fit for the Mets, while trading for a back-end pitcher like Edwin Jackson to compete with niese…

Speaking of starting pitchers…

ESPN’s Peter Gammons says talks between the Braves and A.J. Burnett are progressing well.

…as i wrote this morning, the buzz from Vegas suggests burnett likes the idea of pitching in Atlanta, and could end up signing only a four-year deal…

Tonight, on Baseball Tonight, ESPN’s Tim Kurkjian said he still believes CC Sabathia will eventually sign with the Yankees, while hoping that the Angels, Dodgers and Giants make an offer.

That said, according to MLB.com, Dodgers GM Ned Colletti recently told reporters it is ‘possible’ his team ‘enters the mix.’

Meanwhile, in a recent on-air report for ESPN News, ESPN.com’s Peter Gammons said representatives for A.J. Burnett will meet with the Braves this week in Las Vegas, in hopes of quickly working on an agreement.

…the buzz from Vegas suggests burnett likes the idea of pitching in Atlanta, and could end up signing a four-year deal, despite rumors that he requires a fifth guaranteed season…that, plus no other teams appears willing to give it to him…

That said, according to FoxSports.com, Burnett reached out to Carl Pavano to get his take on playing for the Yankees.

Also, Gammons reports the Padres and Cubs continue to seek a third team to help facilitate sending Jake Peavy to Chicago.

By the way, ESPN 2 will feature a Baseball Tonight Hot Stove Special today at 5 pm EDT.

According to Buster Olney, per ESPN News, talks between Yankees GM Brian Cashman and CC Sabathia went ‘great.’

Lastly, unlike in years past, free-agent LHP Randy Wolf is open to signing with any team, not just teams on the West Coast, reports Ken Rosenthal at FoxSports.com.

Today, in the New York Post, George King says there is a feeling in Las Vegas that Sabathia will eventually re-sign with the Brewers.

Nevertheless, multiple reports indicate Sabathia and his representatives met with Yankees GM Brian Cashman this past weekend in Las Vegas.

…the buzz from Vegas suggests Milwaukee is putting together a six-year deal, worth around $100 million, which is significantly less than the Yankees have offered…however, the deal will contain all sorts of nuggets that could make it attractive, such as an opt-out clause, long-term security in the way of deferred money, a no-trade, and a stadium that is not in the Bronx, where sabathia clearly does not want to play…

…additionally, if the Yankees do not get sabathia, they are likely to focus on Oliver Perez, Randy Wolf and Derek Lowe – yes, all three – since they do not want to give a five-year deal to AJ Burnett, which is what it will take to sway him from Atlanta…

The Dodgers will turn to free-agent OF Bobby Abreu or Pat Burrell, among others, if they are unable to retain Ramirez, reports the Boston Globe.

In a separate post, Heyman describes talks between the Cubs and Padres involving Jake Peavy as on ‘life support,’ according to a person familiar with Chicago’s thinking.

However, on his blog for ESPN.com, Buster Olney writes, ‘Peavy is going to be traded, and what will be left is a team looking at a long rebuilding process.’

Heyman also reports here that CC Sabathia expects the Brewers to up their offer from five years to six.

…from a Mets perspective, if the Brewers can re-sign sabathia, they may be inclined to ramp up efforts to sign a free-agent closer, like Francisco Rodriguez, thus putting pressure on the Mets to do the same, and weakening Omar Minaya’s position…

Lastly, also according to Heyman, here, C Jason Varitek is also planning to reject salary arbitration.

…jeez, maybe they should just call these the Heyman Meetings…i hope he has an unlimited cell phone plan…