According to an ESPN.com News Services report, the Yankees have increased their offer to free agent lefty, CC Sabathia, and are close to acquiring his John Hancock:

Sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney the deal offered by the Yankees is now worth $160 million over seven years -- the most money ever paid a pitcher in major league history. The team had originally offered six years and $140 million.

While a deal is not yet done, a source told ESPN.com's Jayson Stark there are "zero major road blocks" that would prevent the Yankees from reaching agreement with Sabathia. Not all terms of the deal are agreed to yet, the source indicated. Sabathia also would need to take a physical.

The CC deal for the Bombers has been an "on again, off again saga for the Yanks" as their contract offer turned one month old yesterday. There had been reports that the Giants were set to sign the lefty and multiple reports that CC was going to be a Dodger.

If the signing actually takes place, the Yankees would have acquired their main offseason target and can now look to adding additional arms to solidify their shaky rotation.

According to Adam McCalvy, writer at MLB.com. the Brewers have make their first offer to CC Sabathia, one that's believed to be in the $100 million range.

GM Doug Melvin, however, refused to shed any further light on the contract talks. The Brewers have until November 13th to exclusively negotiate with the left hander.

No news is no news in the case of free agent outfielder Manny Ramirez, who has yet to receive an offer from the LA Dodgers. Early reports out of the General Manager meetings had indicated that Dodger GM Ned Colletti offered the dread sporting left fielder a 2 year, $60 million deal.

Padres GM Kevin Towers acknowledged that Jake Peavy has added two more teams to the list of places he's willing to waive his no-trade clause; Anaheim (Angels) and New York (Yankees). Towers also reminded everyone that Peavy's preference is to stay in the NL and that he won't come cheap.

Fransisco Rodriquez filed for free agency on Monday, as the free agent pool increased to 149 players. Other big names to file for free agency include Rafael Frucal, Edgar Renteria, Kyle Farnseworth, and Paul Byrd.

Anything you can do, I can do better. This sentiment running rampant in the NL Central Division as the Cubs picked up A's ace Rich Harden in a six player deal.

The trade comes only a few days after the Brewers picked up linebacker CC Sabathia in a trade with the Cleveland Indians.

Chicago also picked up Chad Gaudin while jettisoning right hander Sean Gallagher and outfielders Matt Murton and Eric Patterson.

ESPN.com News Services is reporting that Cleveland ace C.C. Sabathia has been traded to the Brewers for a couple of minor leaguers:

The Brewers and the Cleveland Indians agreed in principle to a deal for the reigning AL Cy Young on Sunday, sources told ESPN's Buster Olney. The deal is contingent on paperwork being finished and the exchange of medical records.

The trade was first reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

In a text message to ESPN.com's Amy K. Nelson, Sabathia all but confirmed the deal.

"I'm good, excited," Sabathia wrote. "It's weird leaving these guys."

Cleveland would get Double-A outfielder Matt LaPorta, who is hitting .288 with 20 homers and 66 RBIs in 84 games for Huntsville, and others. The other players do not include top prospects Alcides Escobar or Mat Gamel, according to the Journal Sentinel.

Just when it looked like the Yankees were starting to come out of their funk, the baseball Gods send the boys in pinstripes reeling again. This time, Yankee starter Chien Ming Wang is headed to the disabled list after damaging his tendons a ligaments in his right foot.

Wang will be out for at least six weeks, while some are reporting that Wang could be shelved for the remainder of the 2008 season.

The Yanks are in need of a starter, now more than ever. After losing out on the Santana sweepstakes in the offseason, Cashman will almost certainly exhaust every option he has in a search to replace Wang.

Pickings are slim:

C.C. Sabathia: started off poorly, and will be a free agent at the end of the season. If Cleveland falls any farther out of the playoff race, they might be willing to deal their ace. Its a long shot for the Yankees, especially this early in the season. Cleveland knows that teams will be more desperate around the trading deadline, and would be more likely make to make a bonehead move.

Joe Blanton: A's pitcher is having a statistical nightmare of a season; he's 3-9 with a 4.23 era, but has a relatively low WHIP (1.36). Blanton is a tough cookie, he's thrown over 200 innings twice in the past three seasons (194 in 2006) and has started over 30 games when he's been on the roster for a full season. He might come cheaper than Sabathia, but do the Yanks really need another right hander?

Dan Giese: Yanks could promote from within the organization. Giese has done a pretty good job in long relief as Joba transitions into the starting role. Yanks would hope to catch lighting in a bottle with Giese, like they did with Joba a year ago.

Yes, we titled this post the corniest post known to baseball blogging. Get over it, we did. Keep reading, we've got spring training updates.

Carlos Beltran says the Mets are the team to beat. Not the Phillies. Take that Jimmy Rollins. We're hoping that this playground bickering will lead to an intense rivalry for the NL East. Mets/Phillies fights would be great to see. Like the Yankee/Sox fights at the turn of the century.

Closer, starter, ace, pinch hitter. What's next in link for Cardinals righty Adam Wainright? Mathew Leach of MLB.com talks about the future of the Cardinals dominating starter.

Devil Rays closer Troy Percival will be taking it easy this spring, but he says he's back to where he wants to be.

Are the Indians thinking about life without a few CC's in their rotation? MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince takes a look at the Indian's chances without their ace in the hole.

Rocco Baldelli will be taking it easy this spring training and will likely start the season as the Ray's DH. Rotowire reports that team officials sat down with Baldelli and outlined a plan for his safe return to the outfield.