Sabathia's Market Not So Super

According to MLB.com, Los Angeles California Angels of Anaheim GM Tony Reagin's focus is still Mark Teixeira and not CC Sabathia.  Proof:

Reagins made it clear that Teixeira remains No. 1 on the club's list of targets, with everything else lining up behind the power-hitting first baseman seeking a long-term deal in the $20 million per year range. Regains said "there was nothing to" reports that had the Angels moving past Teixeira and focusing on starter CC Sabathia, adding that the club has "no concerns" about Teixeira's left knee, which was subjected to arthroscopic surgery in 2007.

Like anything you read in the press, baseball or otherwise, this should be taken with a grain of salt and a dash of pepper. There are a few thoughts to consider when a baseball person not named Steinbrenner speaks this loudly to the press about rumors.  Reagin's can really only have two positions regarding Sabathia, and that's in the sweepstakes or out.  With this statement, if Reagin's considers himself in, then he obviously doesn't like the terms and pricetag, which is in the Yankees favor.  If he's not in the Sabathia sweepstakes, he's just told the Yankees and everyone else, which gives Sabathia less suitors and less leverage, which is also in the Yankees favor. The relative quite of the last week combined with the lack of arbitration offers around the majors certainly paints a grim financial picture for free agents.  I'm not totally behind the argument that the few arbitration offers were solely based on the economy.  The process has shifted so that teams can negotiate normally with players they don't offer arbitration.  This changes the process completely as both team and player can continue to talk or move on, but it leaves open more options for the team while lowering the amount of lost draft picks. What we are seeing is a market that's moving slowly as nobody wants to set the bar by plunking down $25 million a year for a player, thereby raising the costs of the middle market guys.  Things truly will not shake out until Teixeira and Sabathia sign, and as each of their suitors dwindle, the salaries may come down. Will the Yankees rescind their $140 million offer? I don't see how they can, unless the Steinbrenners decide to do what they did with ARod and pull the offer.  If CC comes looking for the money, they'll propose something substantial but not quite as generous.  As things are shaking out right now, if CC wants to get paid, it seems the only place to do it is at Yankee Stadium. I mentioned this a little while ago but it bears repeating: the big winner this off-season is Johan Santana.  Forcing the Twins hand last winter has proved to be the best thing he could have done for his wallet.  If this market had two aces to pick from right now as the buyers dwindle, Santana probably wouldn't have scored the contract he did.