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Yankees ready to dole out big to CC Sabathia

Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes what we already know:

CC SabathiaThe Yanks can begin revealing that answer as today turns to Friday at 12:01 a.m. It has not been the Yanks’ history to brandish a theatric offer at one minute past midnight. Nevertheless, sometime tomorrow you can expect the Yankees aggressively will extend a proposal. It might not be their best and final, but Yankee insiders suggest it will be a number that says this to Sabathia: “Anything they can do we can do better – much, much better.”

One Yankee executive said, “we have to separate ourselves.” Translation: They must divest Sabathia of his dreams of the Pacific and the batter’s box by going to a financial region relatively quickly that no other franchise would even consider, especially in this plummeting economy.

That means a bid north of the six years at $137.5 million the Mets bestowed last year on Johan Santana . My gut says six years at $150 million sounds about right to force league-wide surrender before the bidding really even gets started.

Can anyone else go to that financial area? The Dodgers are probably Sabathia’s dream landing spot. But there continues to be doubt that L.A. owner Frank McCourt has either the money and/or the willingness to offer near that much.

Where Sabathia winds up will come down to money and whether or not he wants to hit every fifth day. So he’ll weigh the options and then head to the Yankees.

Bernard Hopkins rips Donovan McNabb

Philadelphia boxer Bernard Hopkins ripped Eagles’ quarterback Donovan McNabb on a recent program for Comcast SportsNet’s Monday Night Live.

Donovan McNabb“Some people are athletes, still good, but don’t have that extra ‘I’m willing to sacrifice my life. I’m willing to sacrifice what I have to sacrifice to win.’ … People never forgot when things happen, they see a guy crumble under pressure. Whether they throw up on the highway, whether they throw up on the court, whether they throw up on the football field, when people see that, that sticks in the back of their mind.”

Hopkins was obviously referring to the Eagles’ Super Bowl loss to the Patriots. Some of you made the same reference in our live chat Sunday night when John Madden said McNabb looked winded as the Birds’ offense failed to get a play off before the two-minute warning in the fourth quarter.

Hopkins continued: “Every athlete should have that killer instinct in him, especially if you the quarterback… If he’s not right here and here [pointing to heart and head], and don’t want it, the team feel the vibes…”

Up to this point in the interview, Hopkins had not mentioned McNabb by name. Host Ron Burke asked Hopkins specifically if he questioned McNabb’s ability to take the Eagles to the promised land, and Hopkins responded, “Years ago, years ago.”

Hopkins went on to say that he thinks McNabb would be better off playing in Chicago, where he’s from.

“The reason things are the way they are is because of the money wrapped in him. They can’t get rid of him,” Hopkins said.

I love how people continue to think that winning a Super Bowl is like making a sandwich. McNabb continues to be under appreciated and I’m afraid he always will be. I’d love to see Hopkins take one snap against the Giants’ pass rush and smell the stench from his pants when Justin Tuck blindsides him. This is more about the fact that Hopkins is from Philly and McNabb is from Chicago and therefore, McNabb is not as tough as Hopkins is.

Jake Peavy heading to Atlanta soon?

CBSSports.com is reporting that the San Diego Padres are close to sending ace Jake Peavy to the Atlanta Braves.

Under terms of the deal discussed by the Braves and Padres, San Diego would receive shortstop Yunel Escobar, Class A outfielder Gorkys Hernandez, one of two starting pitchers — Charlie Morton or Jo-Jo Reyes — and either reliever Blaine Boyer or one of two minor-league left-handers (one of which is believed to be Jeff Locke).

In addition to Escobar and Hernandez, it is believed that the Padres, if the deal is completed, will opt for Morton, a 25-year-old right-hander who was 4-8 with a 6.15 ERA in 16 appearances — 15 starts — in 2008. They also are said to be leaning toward Boyer, a 27-year-old right-hander who was one of manager Bobby Cox’s chief workhorses last season, finishing tied for ninth in the NL with 76 appearances.

Though Padres scouts like Locke, he’s only 21 and not yet ready for the majors. The Padres’ bullpen was deeply disappointing last season and, now, with iconic closer Trevor Hoffman apparently having pitched his last game for the Padres, is close to being in complete disarray.

Regardless of where Peavy ends up, the Padres are going to look like a very different ball club next year, which isn’t a bad thing with how brutal the team was last year.

Fantasy Football Podcast: Week 11

Listen in as Anthony Stalter and I discuss Clinton Portis’ injury, the return of Cadillac Williams and Tatum Bell, Matt Hasselbeck’s back and Willie Parker’s shoulder. We also talk about a couple of quarterbacks that have nice matchups this week.

Click here to listen to the podcast.

(The opening and closing music is Joan Jett’s “Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)“)

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