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In what is probably more posturing than statement of fact, Hank Steinbrenner announced that the Yankees have indeed made an offer to CC Sabathia, but also plan on making offers to AJ Burnett and Derek Lowe.

Why does this matter?  It probably doesn't as even if the Yankees do offer all 3 contracts, it isn't likely all 3 will sign, but it would mean their prices all just went up.  Which brings me to this news item from Milwaukee Brewers GM Doug Melvin.

Melvin went public with his confusion behind the Yankees reported offer to Sabathia.  "It sounds like they're overbidding.  If the speculation is true that we've offered CC $100 million, why would you offer $140 million? Why wouldn't you offer $110 million?"

Good question Doug.  Obviously no one knows who bid what except Sabathia himself, but it doesn't make too much sense.  If the Yankees decide to put their best bid forward, fine, but I'd be surprised to see Sabathia sign the reported Yankee offer but rather a further enhanced offered later on.

I've wonder why this happens all the time.  Both Alex Rodriguez signings baffled me as it was reported that no other team was even close.  The Red Sox signings of JD Drew and Julio Lugo also stuck me as overdone.

While acknowledging that much of what we hear during negotiations as fans turns out to be rubbish, there are often nuggets of fact surrounding the dealings.

Free agency isn't eBay where you can automatically win a bid by hitting a certain price.  These are real world business dealings and it seems foolish to throw Ft. Knox at a player when a local bank would do.

Melvin does fail to mention one important thing, the Brewers offer is for 5 years and the Yankees for 6, but still, the Yankees offer is more in years and more in average annual compensation.  Why not just go with 6-years and $120mm?

Chew on that for a bit.

Red Sox notes:  The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo is reporting that the Red Sox and Detroit Tigers are considering a Julio Lugo for Dontrelle Willis or Nate Robertson.  Lugo is in the middle of a 4 year, $36mm deal while Willis has 2 years left on a 3-year $29MM deal ($10mm in '09 and $12mm in '10).  Robertson is in the final of his 3-year, $21.25mm deal ($7mm in '09 and $10mm in '10).

Now Lugo wasn't good in 2008, but he wasn't terrible.  His .352 OBP has to count for something.  For the most part, it was an overly forgettable, injury shortened season for him.

As for Willis, where do I start?  He fell off the cliff he was so bad.  In the Majors, he was 0-2 with a 9.38 ERA in 24 IP.  He allowed 18 hits and 35 BB!!!  What?  35 BB in 24 IP?  He also pitched about 56 IP in the minors last year with a 4.50 ERA.  He was at class A Lakeland and AAA Toledo and allowed a 4.50 and 4.55 ERA respectively.  So even in the minors against A-ballers he was shaky.

I don't know if Willis has anything left, but if the Tigers take all of Lugo's salary, I'd say make the deal because the Red Sox seem to have settled on Jed Lowrie and taking a gamble on Willis and having it pay off is better than taking a gamble on Lugo and having it pay off.

As for Robertson, he too was bad.  He pitched 168 IP in the Majors with a 6.35 ERA, 218 H and 62 BB.  Simply miserable.  Robertson has never been as good as Willis, so I would say a Lugo for Robertson makes no sense as even if Robertson reverts to form, his form wasn't really good in the first place.

Makes you understand why the Tigers were do bad last year.

Lastly, ESPN has a report on Red Sox almost suspending Manny Ramirez a week before he was traded.  I'm tired of this story and can't wait for Manny to be someone else's problem.