No deadline for CC on Yanks' offer

CC Sabathia, Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

The Yankees have not yet set a deadline for their $140-million, six-year offer to free-agent starting pitcher CC Sabathia, and according to someone familiar with their thinking, they have no intention to pull the offer anytime soon.

New Yankees boss Hal Steinbrenner was responding to a reporter's question when he said, "We made an offer. It's not going to be there forever.'' And all he meant was exactly that. Not forever.

It appears now that the Yankees aren't about to set a deadline -- at least not yet.

The Dodgers, Giants, Angels, Red Sox and incumbent Brewers all have interest in Sabathia. But to this point, no one has emerged to play in the Yankees' dollar stratosphere, and they remain the favorite to win the Sabathia Derby.

Everyone in baseball is closely watching what's going on with the Yankees and Sabathia because several other star players could be impacted by where he goes.

For instance, if Sabathia goes somewhere other than the Yankees, at that point the Yankees would more seriously consider making a major run at superstar first baseman Mark Teixeira, who's drawn interest from at least his own Angels plus the Nationals, Orioles, Red Sox, Giants and Mariners. Additionally, if they don't get Sabathia, the Yankees might have to intensify their efforts to sign Derek Lowe or possibly A.J. Burnett (at this moment, they seem more enthused about Lowe than Burnett).

Comments (11) Add A Comment

November 24, 2008 03:14 PM ET

Report Abuse | QUOTE

If the Yankees do get C.C., they should stop there and let Burnett and Lowe go elsewhere. Then after next season, push just as hard to sign Josh Beckett. C.C., Beckett, Joba!!!

Yankee27

Castaic , CA

Total Comments (1080)

November 24, 2008 03:23 PM ET

Beckett has a club option for 2010.

hyperRevue

Total Comments (11449)

November 24, 2008 03:38 PM ET

which im sure they'll pick up the option on Big BecK but i think they should go cc burnett sheets

cc wang burnett sheets joba not in thats order but thats would be nice if healthy

DaReS(BX)DrAmA

Bronx , NY

Total Comments (43)

November 24, 2008 03:40 PM ET

I like Sheets as well... but the max he will get anywhere is a 2 year deal. I say if we sign him though, let him have every 4th start off so that he can stay fresh for the playoffs.

November 24, 2008 03:42 PM ET

The option kicks in automatically if he reaches certain milestones. I'm not sure what those are.

QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 03:38 PM ET 11.24 by DaReS(BX)DrAmA

which im sure they'll pick up the option on Big BecK but i think they should go cc burnett sheets cc wang burnett sheets joba not in thats order but thats would be nice if healthy

And that's a HUGE "if" with Burnett and Sheets.

November 24, 2008 04:00 PM ET

Yankees cant bet on both Burnett and Sheets. Imagine them spending a total of $30 million per year on 2 guys that can easily be on the DL for a majority of the season. Why not bring back Pavano while we are at it...hahaha.

November 25, 2008 07:37 AM ET

i would never go near Lowe. A) HIS AGENT is scott boras. B) he is 35. C) he too wants a 5 year deal and was pitching very well in the NL.
Heyman could you please stop yanking us..we are dealing with Brian "lazzy head cant get anything right" Cashman..i bet ya nobody comes here..why? CASHMAN who i think is secretly working as a spy for the red soxs to ruin the Yankees. plus we have HAL steinbrenner no knowledge of baseball.
oh how i miss good old george..if he was in charge..we would have CC, TEIXERA, BURNETT HUDSON, a center fielder. maybe even Peavy,,or certainly we would have had Santana..but it will be a long cold winter..and a lousy season ..lets fire Cashman get fresh blood. new ownership..and go with that..cause right now..it looks like 1990 all over again. when no one wanted to come to the yankees!

Yankeeheart

New York , NY

Total Comments (1)

November 25, 2008 09:44 AM ET

The only problem in waiting for Becket is, these are the Yankees not the
knicks. Yanks want to win now, not wait another year, especially with the opening of the new stadium.

los214

Great Neck , NY

Total Comments (8)

November 25, 2008 10:04 AM ET

Its amazing how some players want to hold the yanks for a kings ransom. Peavy for example really pissies me off. He needs a new deal to come here??!! let him stay in San Diego or go to Houston and wallow around with a sub 500 team! If you really want to have a chance to win every year, you wanna come to the yanks. Hey Cash, lets start pursuing winners that want to be here and not these players that are on the fence and are afraid of pressure! Winners only need to apply! When I say winner, its a proven player that doesn't think twice about the pressure.

November 25, 2008 10:39 AM ET

los214 - unfortunately, 90% of the players nowadays could care less about winning. All they care about is the money. Players are babied by teams if they have a boo-boo because of the money, not because of the will to win. Perfect example is Baby Joba - if you're a major league pitcher, then pitch and win! The sad fact is players play for the money now and winning - whatever you need to do to win - has gone away.