Winter Meetings: Day Three

Well, there goes that pipe dream. The lure of New York money once again proves too hard to resist and CC Sabathia has apparently signed with the Yankees. Oh, and in case you were thinking the Yanks were done there, they are apparently also getting close to a deal with Derek Lowe. Sabathia and Lowe side by side would seemingly lock the Yanks as the favorites in the division.

But what does this mean for everyone else?

The Angels now have no Plan B. If Texeira goes elsewhere, they may get desperate to make a splash in the free agency pool and yes, we just might see them make a run at Manny. By the way, this morning's rumors have the Red Sox leading in the hunt for Tex - should be interesting.

It also cranks up the price of all remaining FA pitchers. If Sabathia and Lowe are off the market, keep an eye on AJ Burnett among others. Even the pitchers a little further down the chain - RJ, Moyer, Benson, etc. The price goes up and so does the competition to land those guys. That one will affect the Dodgers directly.

However, with Sabathia off the market, you would expect a flood of people to sign quickly. Anyone who was holding out hope for the big fish should move on to their next choice and their next and the ones after that.

There's a rumor also being floated that the Yanks are mulling a run at Manny because Hank Steinbrenner wants to sign him. No word on whether or not this comes AFTER the Sabathia signing because you would think even the Yankees would have trouble with signing both of those guys. But even the rumor of that is enough to give Scott Boras morning wood. The Dodgers, the Angels, and the Yankees in a potential bidding war for Manny - the last big name FA left on the market after he engineers Tex to Boston? Yeah, he'd enjoy that.

One last thought - the last time Boras pulled one of those plays, sending JD Drew to Boston out from under the Dodgers' noses, we ended up signing Juan Pierre in desperation.

I'd hate to see what happens if the Dodgers get shut out on Manny.