Cashman Meets With CC

UPDATE 7:00 p.m.: Jayson Stark is saying that yesterday's meeting lasted 2 1/2 hours.

Sabathia did not indicate that his delay in signing has anything to do with a preference to play elsewhere, the source said. He's simply attempting to assemble as full a picture as possible before making a major decision. "He just wants to know what it's like to play in New York," the source said.

UPDATE 6:30 p.m.: Even though he wants to be a Dodger the Yanks are still on his list.

Peter Abraham just spoke with Brian Cashman, and Cash told him that he met with Sabathia again today and that the Yankees are still “on his list.”

UPDATE 3:45 p.m.: Joel Sherman reports that Reggie Jackson was also at the meeting.

UPDATE 1:08 p.m.: Ken Davidoff has some more on last night's meeting:

The Yankees came away encouraged from their meeting with CC Sabathia last night, a person familiar with the situation said. The team believes that Sabathia has a sincere interest in New York and appears to be willing to wait out Sabathia.

There is minimal doubt about Sabathia's character, given the way he has conducted himself and, especially, the way he pitched for the Brewers this past year, knowing that he would probably be pitching elsewhere in 2009.

Joe Girardi joined Brian Cashman in the meeting.

Davidoff also mentions that Sabathia has no timeline in making a decision, and that the Yankees are hopeful he will come to a decision in the next couple of weeks.

This process may not end this weeks folks, so sit tight and be patient.

Kat O'Brien also says that "the meeting left the Yankees feeling better about their chances of signing Sabathia, as they now think he is not opposed to playing in New York."

UPDATE 11:19 a.m.: From George A. King III:

According to a source who has talked to the Brewers, the club has enough money to sweeten the pot and offer "contract flexibility" that could include an opt-out clause after three seasons.

This may or may not hurt the Yankees chances. They still have a much larger offer on the table and I'm sure if it meant signing him or not they could add the same sort or contract flexibility that the Brewers are offering.

UPDATE 11:05 a.m.: Buster Olney says that "the meeting between the Yankees and CC Sabathia is characterized by a source as having gone 'great.'"

From Bill Madden:

The $140 million game of chicken began in earnest Sunday night when Brian Cashman met with CC Sabathia and his agent, Greg Genske, on the eve of the winter meetings at the Bellagio hotel.

According to industry sources, it was Genske and not Cashman who asked for the meeting, ... The reason Genske wanted the meeting, said one source, is that the agent is trying to buy more time for another team more to Sabathia's liking to approach the Yankee bid.

With each passing day, the likelihood of that lessens considerably. "(Genske) has to be concerned about them pulling the offer and moving on to the other (free agent) pitchers," the source said. "If he blows this deal, he's dead as an agent. For one thing, who's going to approach that $140 million if the Yankees are out of it? Sabathia winds up with a deal $20 million less than Barry Zito? Like I said, (Genske's) dead."

"There's nothing more ominous for all the clubs here operating in this economy than the Yankees being desperate for pitching," said one agent Sunday night. "They don't seem to care what it costs them to get it."

Genske and CC can wait as long as they want, but I don't believe anyone is going to come close to the Yankees' offer. And then if some team does the Yankees will just add another $10-20 million.

The article also goes on to say that many believe the Yankees are willing to add a fifth year to their offer for A.J. Burnett, and were also preparing a multi-year offer for Ben Sheets.