Brewers still in running for CC

2008-12-08T22:08:14-05:00

2008-12-08T12:46:06-05:00

2008-12-08T22:08:14-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/480/822/thumb/cubs.jpg 410 IL

Cubsfanil

Westville 481262

4 If the Brewers re-sign CC, they are going to hate themselves for abusing him at the end of this year, with all that work and his obvious weight problems he will be lucky to last the 5 or 6 years they want to give him. 3586228

2008-12-08T15:47:47-05:00

Shamedog18

Shirley 621576

3 Not saying that CC won't go back to the Brewers, but anything the NY Post reports has to be taken with a grain of salt. That paper is just a big tabloid. I don't think there's really been anything out on Sabathia over the last month that's been more than pure speculation. The reason he hasn't accepted the Yankees' offer yet could be because he simply does not want to play there, or it could be that he's simply trying to draw in more offers to bump the Yankees' offer up a little more. 3581612

2008-12-08T14:10:22-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/604/139/thumb/statue.jpg 130 PA

Reason in Philly?

Philadelphia 604779

2 The cynic in me can't see an athlete taking below top dollar (aka the Yankees); especially with the pressure the union is sure to place on him with their standard "The more $$$ you get, the more you help your brethren in the future" speech. But, I would love to see CC take a stand and do what he thinks is best for him or what he thinks will make him happiest. 3579606

2008-12-08T13:28:40-05:00

112

.talkingNYsports.com

New York 623254

1 WHERE THEY MAY END UP... It appears as though much will happen at the MLB Winter Meetings in Vegas this week. It just has to be! As nothing has happened for the past couple of months, one would think that eventually the major free agents will sign. With regard to CC, I think he may surprise everyone and go back to Milwaukee. I think that may be the reason he is waiting to sign. I know it is a long shot, but perhaps Sabathia wants to see if the Brewers pick up anyone special to improve the roster. If so, then CC (assuming an increase in the $100 million offer currently on the table) will head back to the upper midwest to a team he led to the playoffs. He can own that town with ease (in fact he may already own the town) and there is a great young core of everyday players in the line up. Ryan Braun is an all world player, Prince Fielder and Corey Hart are well above average players. Rickie Weeks, JJ Hardy and Bill Hall are also solid young players. With Mike Cameron in center (borderline great defensive outfielder) and Jason Kendall (can't hit a lick, but he is a good leader) as the rest of the line up, this team may be good for a while if it has enough pitching. I would certainly look for the Brewers to sign a big deal. If it is not CC, then a second tier pitcher will be in Milwaukee come spring. The other prominent pitchers are either going to end up in New York, Anaheim, Boston or LA (with either team - more likely the Angels - the Dodgers have a peculiar ownership situation) with the dark horses being the A's and Braves. For some reason, AJ Burnett is considering signing with the Braves. For him, I don't really understand the move because Atlanta needs to rebuild and AJ Burnett is not going to transform a 90 loss team into a playoff team (certainly not in that division)! Derek Lowe will probably end up in Boston. They tend to sign those over achieving pitchers who manage to pitch very well in the playoffs even though they don't have superior talent. Lowe used to play in Boston, so his prior relationship with the club will add to the intrigue. However, if the Yankees don't get CC, I expect them to make a big push for Lowe - especially if the Braves sign Burnett over the weekend. Teixeira is an interesting study. I still think he will resign with the Angels because they have cash to spend (no more Garret Anderson at $12+ million) and Teixeira played really well for them last year. Side point: Garret Anderson has never been worth $12 million a year. Granted he had 4 straight years of 100+ RBIs, 28+ HRs and a .307+ AVG; however, his numbers dropped dramatically after steroid testing came into effect and he has not come close to those power numbers since. Not saying anything definitively, but, it makes you at least a little suspicious. this is my opinion from my website 3578854

<p> </p> <div><span>LAS VEGAS -- Brewers GM <strong>Doug Melvin</strong> is expected to meet here, perhaps today, with Sabathia's agent, <strong>Greg Genske, </strong>and people familiar with the situation say Milwaukee is open to a few enhancements to try to retain the star free-agent pitcher.</span></div> <div><br /></div> <div><span>The Brewers, according to sources, are open to adding a sixth year for Sabathia, which would likely raise their offer from $100 million to close to $120 million (a source said deferred monies could make the actually value closer to $110 million), and possibly even agreeing to a dreaded opt-out clause. I have heard the opt-out clause could be after two years -- though the <em>New York Post</em>, which first suggested that possibility, speculated it might come after three years. If they do offer it after two years, Sabathia could hit the open market again when he's 30 if he chooses.</span></div> <div><br /></div> <div><span>The Brewers also have an advantage they have no control over. People who know Sabathia well from Cleveland say he absolutely hated spring training in Florida, which means the market-leading Yankees, who train in Tampa, might have a hurdle to climb, even beyond the fact that they are as far as possible from California, Sabathia's home state and the place he'd prefer to play if all else was equal. </span></div> <div><br /></div> <div><span>The Brewers loom at least for now as the biggest threat to the Yankees, who offered $140 million over six years. It was reported here last week that Sabathia had received two additional offers from unknown teams before Thanksgiving.</span></div> <div><br /></div> <div><span>Sabathia's hometown Giants could well be one of those teams, but baseball people would be shocked if they could match the Yankees dollar-for-dollar and assume any offer by them would be closer to the Brewers' initial bid.</span></div> <div><br /></div> <div><span>The Red Sox have shown interest in Sabathia but seem more focused on their pursuit of star free-agent first baseman <strong>Mark Teixeira</strong> right now.</span></div> <div><br /></div> <div><span>The Dodgers would likely have a difficult time squeezing Sabathia into their budget, as they have multiple openings to fill, and would have to forego pursuits of needed offensive players if they went for Sabathia.</span></div> <div><br /></div> <div><span>The Angels are also concentrating on Teixeira for now. Sabathia would likely want to wait to see how that, or anything else in California, plays out before signing with either the Yankees or Brewers. His wait time may depend on his meeting here with Yankees GM <strong>Brian Cashman</strong>.</span></div> http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/100/64/thumb/Heyman_Jon.png 0 NY

Jon Heyman

New York 10084 30144 <p><span>LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Brewers GM <strong>Doug Melvin</strong> is expected to meet here, perhaps today, with Sabathia's agent, <strong>Greg Genske, </strong>and people familiar with the situation say Milwaukee is open to a few enhancements to try to retain the star free-agent pitcher.</span></p> <div><br /></div> <div><span>The Brewers, according to sources, are open to adding a sixth year for Sabathia, which would likely raise their offer from $100 million to close to $120 million (a source said deferred monies could make the actually value closer to $110 million), and possibly even agreeing to a dreaded opt-out clause. I have heard the opt-out clause could be after two years -- though the <em>New York Post</em>, which first suggested that possibility, speculated it might come after three years. If they do offer it after two years, Sabathia could hit the open market again when he's 30 if he chooses.</span></div> <div><br /></div> <p> </p>