YankeesGround.com | New York Yankees News, yankees Scores, Game Recaps & Commentary - <div> --LHP CC Sabathia, who had said he would make a decision on the Yankees' offer after Thanksgiving, might have had an added suitor to consider before making his choice. Along with the Yankees and Brewers, the Angels reportedly were prepared to enter the fray for the Milwaukee ace. The Yankees had offered $140 million over six years -- $40 million more than Milwaukee -- the Angels could attempt to be competitive with the Yankees' deal, according to reports. The delay in Sabathia's decision had also caused a re-emergence of the thought that he preferred to remain in the National League or move to California, but it's tough to blame the pitcher for waiting to see if any other offers could at least drive up the asking price.</div>--LHP Andy Pettitte is talking to the Dodgers and his former manager, Joe Torre, according to FoxSports.com, but if the Yankees lose Pettitte for the second time as a free agent, they will be less to blame than the last time. Pettitte reportedly isn't happy with the idea of taking a pay cut from last year's $16 million salary, but considering he had a 5.35 ERA in the second half and he submitted the team to controversy with his appearance in the Mitchell Report, he does not have the same amount of public sympathy he had when he walked away from the Bronx in 2003. He also is not as valuable a player as he could have been then. --1B Mark Teixeira could become a Yankees target if they fail to land LHP C.C. Sabathia, according to a report in Newsday, but that could be a flawed backup plan. The idea is that if the Yankees can't land the best pitcher on the free market, they would instead use those dollars to go for Teixeira or even LF Manny Ramirez (which seems less likely given the money and aspirin such a signing would require). That wouldn't exactly be ideal considering the Yankees already picked up a first baseman in Nick Swisher, and no offensive upgrade can counter a weak pitching staff. It might be better to save the dollars to see if they can figure out something via trade at some point since they would simply be spending money rather than filling their targeted need. --DH Hideki Matsui will not play for Japan in the World Baseball Classic again, this time because of the rehab needed for his surgically repaired knee, according to a report. Matsui, an icon in Japan, sparked controversy there when he declined to play in the inaugural WBC nearly three years ago. This time, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told Newsday in an e-mail, Matsui "will not be ready" to play because of his knee. Matsui is in the final season of his contract with the Yankees and will likely be relegated to the DH role with limited time in a crowded outfield. --RF Bobby Abreu wants to stay with the Yankees so badly, he'd give up an extra year of his contract to do it, according to a report. A source in a report for the New York Daily News said Abreu might forgo a three-year deal with another suitor for a two-year pact with the Yankees. Even with that type of home-team discount, a reunion might not be likely unless the Yankees have some trade talks in the works. With Johnny Damon and Xavier Nady on the corners -- and both with just one year left on their contracts -- and Hideki Matsui at DH and ready to play the outfield along with 1B/OF Nick Swisher, the Yankees don't necessarily need to tie up money and years in another corner outfielder. --RHP Joba Chamberlain's role as a starting pitcher could become more vital if the Yankees are unable to lure LHP CC Sabathia to New York. While RHP Chien-Ming Wang is expected to return after missing the last half of 2008 with a foot injury, he is a sinkerballer and the Yankees have wanted a fastball pitcher for the top of their rotation. Chamberlain would give them their best shot if he can stay healthy (he went on the disabled list with arm issues last season) and out of trouble (he was arrested on suspicion of DUI in the offseason). BY THE NUMBERS: 5 -- World Series championships won by Joe Gordon, four of them in his seven seasons with the Yankees. Gordon is one of 10 players listed on the "pre-1943" ballot for the Hall of Fame. The Veterans Committee announcement will come Dec. 8. QUOTE TO NOTE: "It seems like everyone is waiting for the first guy to fall and then it will take off. We need that first big chip to fall." -- Yankees manager Joe Girardi, to the New York Daily News, on the slow start to baseball's free agency period.

--LHP CC Sabathia, who had said he would make a decision on the Yankees' offer after Thanksgiving, might have had an added suitor to consider before making his choice. Along with the Yankees and Brewers, the Angels reportedly were prepared to enter the fray for the Milwaukee ace. The Yankees had offered $140 million over six years -- $40 million more than Milwaukee -- the Angels could attempt to be competitive with the Yankees' deal, according to reports. The delay in Sabathia's decision had also caused a re-emergence of the thought that he preferred to remain in the National League or move to California, but it's tough to blame the pitcher for waiting to see if any other offers could at least drive up the asking price.

--LHP Andy Pettitte is talking to the Dodgers and his former manager, Joe Torre, according to FoxSports.com, but if the Yankees lose Pettitte for the second time as a free agent, they will be less to blame than the last time. Pettitte reportedly isn't happy with the idea of taking a pay cut from last year's $16 million salary, but considering he had a 5.35 ERA in the second half and he submitted the team to controversy with his appearance in the Mitchell Report, he does not have the same amount of public sympathy he had when he walked away from the Bronx in 2003. He also is not as valuable a player as he could have been then.

--1B Mark Teixeira could become a Yankees target if they fail to land LHP C.C. Sabathia, according to a report in Newsday, but that could be a flawed backup plan. The idea is that if the Yankees can't land the best pitcher on the free market, they would instead use those dollars to go for Teixeira or even LF Manny Ramirez (which seems less likely given the money and aspirin such a signing would require). That wouldn't exactly be ideal considering the Yankees already picked up a first baseman in Nick Swisher, and no offensive upgrade can counter a weak pitching staff. It might be better to save the dollars to see if they can figure out something via trade at some point since they would simply be spending money rather than filling their targeted need.

--DH Hideki Matsui will not play for Japan in the World Baseball Classic again, this time because of the rehab needed for his surgically repaired knee, according to a report. Matsui, an icon in Japan, sparked controversy there when he declined to play in the inaugural WBC nearly three years ago. This time, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told Newsday in an e-mail, Matsui "will not be ready" to play because of his knee. Matsui is in the final season of his contract with the Yankees and will likely be relegated to the DH role with limited time in a crowded outfield.

--RF Bobby Abreu wants to stay with the Yankees so badly, he'd give up an extra year of his contract to do it, according to a report. A source in a report for the New York Daily News said Abreu might forgo a three-year deal with another suitor for a two-year pact with the Yankees. Even with that type of home-team discount, a reunion might not be likely unless the Yankees have some trade talks in the works. With Johnny Damon and Xavier Nady on the corners -- and both with just one year left on their contracts -- and Hideki Matsui at DH and ready to play the outfield along with 1B/OF Nick Swisher, the Yankees don't necessarily need to tie up money and years in another corner outfielder.

--RHP Joba Chamberlain's role as a starting pitcher could become more vital if the Yankees are unable to lure LHP CC Sabathia to New York. While RHP Chien-Ming Wang is expected to return after missing the last half of 2008 with a foot injury, he is a sinkerballer and the Yankees have wanted a fastball pitcher for the top of their rotation. Chamberlain would give them their best shot if he can stay healthy (he went on the disabled list with arm issues last season) and out of trouble (he was arrested on suspicion of DUI in the offseason).

BY THE NUMBERS: 5 -- World Series championships won by Joe Gordon, four of them in his seven seasons with the Yankees. Gordon is one of 10 players listed on the "pre-1943" ballot for the Hall of Fame. The Veterans Committee announcement will come Dec. 8.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It seems like everyone is waiting for the first guy to fall and then it will take off. We need that first big chip to fall." -- Yankees manager Joe Girardi, to the New York Daily News, on the slow start to baseball's free agency period.