MILWAUKEE - The room is about to get more crowded in the auction for free agent left-hander CC Sabathia, if it hasn't already.
An agent familiar with the situation said Wednesday he expected the San Francisco Giants to make an offer to Sabathia's agents in an effort to coax him into playing for what in essence is his hometown team.
Another agent keeping tabs on Sabathia said he expected the Los Angeles Angels also to enter the fray at some point. Because Sabathia's representatives are keeping all offers private, it wasn't known if either the Giants or Angels had submitted formal bids or merely were testing the waters.
Reports that the Los Angeles Dodgers were preparing to make an offer apparently were not true, according to those familiar with the club's plans.
Either way, the Brewers' already slim chances of keeping Sabathia will diminish further with California teams in play. Sabathia, who hails from Vallejo, Calif., just down the road from San Francisco, has told friends and acquaintances he likes the idea of playing in his home state.
Asked Wednesday if he'd be surprised if the Giants and/or Angels pursue Sabathia, Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said, "Not really. I think that's only natural."
Before the interest from out west, Sabathia's only known suitors were the Brewers and New York Yankees. The Brewers opened the bidding with a five-year, $100 million offer and the Yankees tried to blow away the competition by coming in at six years and $140 million.
Melvin decided against contacting Sabathia's agents to ask for a counter-offer, realizing they were waiting until all the offers are in.
"I'm not to that point yet," said Melvin. "We're still waiting at this point. The free agent market is always slow to develop.
"It's only been a few days since other teams could make offers. The free agent period is really just starting."
There was a perception by some that the Giants couldn't afford Sabathia and also pay the remainder of left-hander Barry Zito 's $126 million contract, which has five years and $101 million remaining. But beyond Zito and centerfielder Aaron Rowand (four more years, $50 million), San Francisco has few financial commitments beyond 2009.
The Giants have about $57 million committed in salaries for 2009. Last year, they opened the season with a $77 million payroll. The Giants, who privately financed their ballpark and need to keep full houses coming, realize Sabathia would be a big draw.
The Dodgers won the weak NL West with 84 victories in 2008. San Francisco was 12 games out and Sabathia certainly could help close that gap, and the Giants probably think he'd take less money than the Yankees offered to play at home.
