But in the meantime, at the winter meetings, the big lefty is turning into Cameron Diaz's character from "There's Something About Mary." Everyone is smitten with him. And he's making everyone - well, almost everyone - feel special.

How concerned should the Yankees be, as different suitors emerge or appear to do so? The bet here is, not very. Team officials came away from their two meetings with Sabathia believing that the 28-year-old was not fully opposed to playing in New York (although he clearly would prefer the West Coast).

The Yankees are still the high bidder, with that six-year, $140-million package they delivered Nov. 14. The Brewers are still hanging around; general manager Doug Melvin met with Sabathia's agents yesterday, and Milwaukee is contemplating raising its five-year, $100-million offer.

The Red Sox, they of the stacked pitching staff, took time to meet with Sabathia yesterday before he skipped town. The Giants might have met with him, or just his agents; regardless, they're still making noise about taking a shot at the Northern California native and resident.

And then Dodgers GM Ned Colletti, out of nowhere, told ESPN.com's Jayson Stark that he ran into Sabathia at a Vegas hotel and that Sabathia told him he wanted to be a Dodger.

Isn't this the part now where Brett Favre walks through the door?

Let's break down the Yankees' competition:

Red Sox. General manager Theo Epstein, manager Terry Francona and pitching coach John Farrell met with Sabathia and his representatives yesterday. Really? Don't the Red Sox have a deep rotation and a greater need for offense (namely, Mark Teixeira)?

"We wouldn't be meeting with him unless we had legitimate interest," a Boston official said.

All right. Here's what Francona said, however: "We don't feel the need to go sign somebody for more years than the organization is comfortable and put the organization in peril, potentially. We have had a lot of good young kids come through our system and we have some veterans and it's a very good mix."

In other words, it would be out of character for Epstein to commit six years and $140 million to a free-agent starter. Besides, if Sabathia harbors doubts about playing in New York, Boston is an even bigger fish bowl for Sawx players.

Brewers. Frustration was the primary mood after their meeting with Greg Genske, Scott Parker and Brian Peters. According to someone familiar with the situation, the Brewers still aren't sure what they need to do to retain Sabathia. It seems they can't stretch their offer by much more.

Giants. They loom as the most interesting possibility. They clearly would be Sabathia's top choice, if the money were equal. But can it be equal?

Team officials wouldn't say quite that yesterday, yet they said, on the condition of anonymity, that they were thinking very seriously about Sabathia. Could they possibly offer more than the seven-year, $126-million deal they gave to Barry Zito? If they did, it could crush them. Nevertheless, if they did, they'd probably get their man.

Dodgers. This was fascinating. You wouldn't think Colletti would make something like this up. And the Yankees can't be thrilled to hear about this.

Nevertheless, read Colletti's quote: "It's an interesting dynamic with anybody who is long term at a salary that's higher than most. When you're talking about a player who is long term, it's going to change the dynamic of your team in some way."

Translation: "No, we're not signing him. We can't afford him."

The Yankees are covering their bases if they do lose out on Sabathia. They're set to compete for A.J. Burnett, and they met with Ben Sheets. If they get CC, it won't have been pretty.

Yet Sabathia's character trumps all here. The Yankees think that once they get him, there'll be no looking back. Just like how Cameron Diaz and Ben Stiller strolled away together, the past nothing but comic relief.