Yanks, Sabathia close to deal … LAS VEGAS — Free-agent pitcher CC Sabathia is about to sign with the Yankees, SI.com has confirmed.  The deal being finalized now is expected to pay Sabathia about $160 million over seven years.  —  The two sides are on the verge of an agreement …

Opt-out clause key to Sabathia going to Yankees  —  Buzz up!  —  LAS VEGAS - Baseball's perennial high-rollers, the New York Yankees, scored the biggest coup of the winter meetings when CC Sabathia reached preliminary agreement on a deal that will pay him $161 million over the next seven years.

Sources: Yankees close to deal with Sabathia  —  Sabathia And Yankees Very Close To A Deal  —  LAS VEGAS — CC Sabathia will be a New York Yankee.  —  The Yankees are “very close” to a preliminary agreement with Sabathia on Wednesday morning, following an in-person meeting between GM Brian Cashman …

Cashman, Sabathia meet a 3rd time … LAS VEGAS — Yankees general manager Brian Cashman flew up to the Bay Area to meet Tuesday with top free-agent pitching target CC Sabathia amid growing optimism that the Yankees might yet win the battle for the superstar southpaw.

Brian Cashman meeting with CC Sabathia for third time  —  Pitcher CC Sabathia (AP Photo)  —  LAS VEGAS - Brian Cashman is meeting with CC Sabathia for the third consecutive day, this time in San Francisco.  —  Multiple sources confirmed the Cashman-Sabathia meeting to Newsday.

Sabathia Reaches Agreement With Yankees  —  By Cork Gaines [December 10 at 10:14am CST]  —  10:14am: Tim Brown and Gordon Edes of Yahoo report that the deal is for $161MM over seven years (which would top Johan's average annual value).  —  The deal has an opt-out clause after the first three years, which are worth $69MM.

Yankees making big-time progress with Sabathia  —  There appears to have been a major break in the Yankees' negotiations with free-agent left-hander CC Sabathia, and the sides appear closer than ever to a deal.  —  “From (Tuesday) morning until (Tuesday) night, things are looking a lot …

CC agrees to 7-year, $160M deal with Yanks  —  Brian Cashman went to San Fran and got his man, bagging ace lefty CC Sabathia for what is believed to be a record-setting 7-year, $160 million deal.  CC timeline  —  The Bitter Bill: Another awful day for Met fans

Wisely Spending on CC  —  Apparently, CC Sabathia and the New York Yankees have agreed to a seven-year $160 million contract, which is just under $23 million per season.  [Update: Tim Brown is reporting the deal is for $161 million (exactly $23 million per year) and has an opt-out clause after three years.]

Former Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood agrees to deal with Cleveland Indians  —  LAS VEGAS — With two teams to pick from in the American League Central, Kerry Wood appears to have rejected overtures from Detroit to take a deal with Cleveland.  —  Wood's decision to sign with the Indians followed …