The rumors from the Bellagio in Las Vegas have been plentiful, like Casy Blake close to signing with the Dodgers for 3 years, and the Padres close to dealing Jake Peavy in a 3 or 4 team deal with the Cubs, Phillies and Orioles possibly involved. But, none of the rumors was as big as the news that the Sabathia told Dodgers GM Ned Colletti on Sunday night.
Here is the quote from ESPN's Jayson Stark:
Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti told ESPN.com's Jayson Stark on Monday that he ran into the free agent on Sunday night in a hotel lobby and the left-hander told him that he wants to be a Dodger.
Not much there in that quote. But Sabathia and his agents did meet with the Yankees for 2.5 hours on Sunday. Then, on Sunday night, Sabathia apparently told Colletti he wants to be a Dodger. On Monday afternoon, Cashman visited Sabathia and his agents in Sabathia's hotel. Sabathia's representatives also met with the Brewers and Red Sox. He did not meet with the Dodgers other than the chance meeting in the hotel lobby Sunday night. Or did he?
Prior to the Winter meetings, Colletti was quoted as saying that he hasn't made an offer to Sabathia, but would knowing that he has interest in playing for the Dodgers. Well, Ned you got your wish.
Now, I am not buying that Colletti "ran into him" in the hotel lobby. Ned does a pretty good job at playing things close to the vest. I imagine...OK, wish.....he scheduled a meeting with the ace pitcher, and laid out the groundworks for a shorter term offer, probably at a higher AAV than Johan Santana got from the Mets. That is how the Colletti/McCourt team operate....unless your name is Juan Pierre. Colletti said yesterday that he may be willing to go more than 3 years on an offer for a special talent like Sabathia.
This evening MLB.com reports that the Yankees "are going full throttle" for A.J. Burnett, while the New York Daily News is reporting the Yankees are also preparing to offer Ben Sheets a two year deal. Did Cashman get word that Sabathia rejected the Yankees offer, and is now moving on? Or is Sabathia just gathering all the information he can to sell his wife on moving to NY?