Dec. 10 -- CC TO YANKS; LOWE TO PHILS?

BY SCOTT LAUBER

LAS VEGAS -- It's not even 9 a.m. here, and already, the Bellagio is buzzing.

After two days of meeting with CC Sabathia, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman flew to San Francisco last night for a third sit-down. Evidently, Sabathia was moved by Cashman's persistence. Or, more likely, the Yankees' seven-year, $160 million offer was too good to refuse. Regardless, CC is poised sign that contract, and you can just feel the desert earth out here beginning to quake.

So, the question for us, Phillies Nation, is how does the Sabathia deal affect the Phillies and their pursuit of Derek Lowe?

My initial thought was that it actually helps because it may take the Yankees out of the running. Now that the Yankees landed CC, they don't absolutely need Lowe. And, perhaps, Lowe won't get the five-year contract, $80 million that he's reportedly seeking. But folks in the lobby with knowledge of the Yankees' intentions are saying that Cashman & Co. don't intend to stop with CC. They'd like to add another starting pitcher, or two, and Lowe may still be on their list.

Scott Boras, Lowe's agent, has been noticeably mum during these meetings. He surfaced Monday during Greg Maddux's retirement press conference, but slipped out a back door before reporters could get to him. With the CC move going down today, I think we may hear from Mr. Boras and, just maybe, get a better idea of where Lowe's camp stands.

More in a bit.