6:19pm: It sounds like Sabathia’s agent Greg Genske is shutting things down for the weekend. He didn’t reveal anything new to Brewers GM Doug Melvin. Adam McCalvy also notes that the Brewers will offer Sabathia arbitration, a procedural move.
12:49pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman talked to Yankees people who believe the Angels leaked interest in Sabathia to reduce Tex’s demands. Those people also believe the Halos will limit their offer to the $100-120MM range. Other factors: Tex makes more sense for the Angels, Arte Moreno loves him, and signing Sabathia could reduce the chances of extending John Lackey.
Nonetheless, Heyman agrees with a rival executive that the Angels are quite serious about Sabathia.
8:51am: The big news yesterday was the L.A. Times report stating that the Angels "are in discussions with C.C. Sabathia and could offer him a contract that approaches the $140 million bid extended to him by the Yankees."
Ken Davidoff wrote this morning that the Yankees are reluctant to raise their offer to Sabathia, even if it means he signs with the Halos. Davidoff says the Yanks would step up their efforts for A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe if they lose Sabathia.
Meanwhile Dan Graziano says Yankees officials scoffed at the idea of the Angels turning their attention to Sabathia. Those officials believe it’s a ploy to get Mark Teixeira to drop his demands. Danny Knobler, however, believes the Angels have already moved on from Teixeira. He says the Angels have long-term concerns about Tex’s knee.
