by Ken Rosenthal

Comment

The date of the meeting has not been set, but the discussion between Cashman and Sabathia will take place in Las Vegas, the site of baseball's winter meetings.

Cashman spent Thursday meeting with agent Scott Boras, the representative for three players in whom the Yankees have interest — free-agent outfielder Manny Ramirez, right-hander Derek Lowe and left-hander Oliver Perez.

Sabathia, however, is the Yankees' No. 1 offseason target. The team has offered him a six-year, $140 million contract, the highest bid ever for a starting pitcher.

By meeting with Sabathia, one source said, Cashman could gauge the pitcher's interest in joining the Yankees and comfort level playing in New York City.

In recent years, several high-priced Yankees pitchers — most notably, Randy Johnson and Carl Pavano — have struggled to adjust to the intense scrutiny in New York.

Sabathia's agents have said that "all things being equal," their client would prefer to play in his home state of California.

All things are not equal, at least not at the moment.

The Brewers are the only other team known to have made Sabathia an offer — five years, $100 million. However, the Angels and Giants also are interested in Sabathia, a native of Vallejo, Ca., and other teams still could enter the bidding.

The Yankees view Sabathia as the centerpiece of their efforts to rebuild their starting rotation. They intend to add two starters, and also are interested in Lowe, right-hander A.J. Burnett and several other free agents.

Sabathia, 28, went a combined 17-10 with a 2.70 ERA for the Indians and Brewers last season, and was 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA after getting traded to Milwaukee in early June.

He led the majors with 253 innings pitched, finished fifth in the National League Cy Young voting and sixth in the MVP balloting.

The Associated Press was the first to report the expected meeting between Cashman and Sabathia.