Are the Giants closing in on a CC Sabathia deal?
The Dodgers and Angels are interested in CC Sabathia, but their interest might be for naught. Sabathia might be on the verge of getting what he has wanted all along -- a chance to play at home.
The Giants met with Sabathia on Monday, a meeting that got both camps so excited that Sabathia might even have told the Yankees that he would pass on their $140-million deal. The sides plan to resume talks in San Francisco.
Sabathia grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area town of Vallejo.
With Sabathia, the Giants could become the prohibitive favorites to win the National League West. He would be joining Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez and Barry Zito, and the Giants could prosper in a division in which they would play 100 games in pitchers' parks -- AT&T Park in San Francisco, Petco Park in San Diego and Dodger Stadium.
As we reported Monday, the Giants would have to make other moves to juggle their payroll and make room for Sabathia. But it's doubtful they would break up the rotation to do so. They wouldn't trade Lincecum; they probably couldn't find a taker for Zito; they wouldn't save much money by trading Sanchez, because he'll make just above $400,000 next year, and Cain has a ridiculously nice contract.
Cain could fetch a big bat in return, and the Giants have him for $2.65 million in 2009 and $4.25 million the following year. The ideal trade might be Cain for Prince Fielder -- the Brewers will need starting pitching with the departure of Sabathia and Ben Sheets. But Fielder is eligible for salary arbitration and could command up to $10 million. That would make the Giants better, but it would not lighten their payroll.
-- BIll Shaikin
Photo: The Brewers' CC Sabathia throws to first base to get Philadelphia Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz during Game Two of the NLDS in Philadelphia on Oct. 2. Credit: Howard Smith / US Presswire
