Very unconfirmed rumor that doesn’t make sense: CC declines Yanks’ offer

Update by Mike (6:15pm EDT): Ken Davidoff with the quote of the day: “Sabathia didn’t reject the Yankees’ offer. Good Lord. How could someone report that?”

Update by Mike (5:41pm EDT): Rosenthal shot it down as well.

Update by Mike (5:30pm EDT): The crew on Baseball Tonight has shot down this rumor, citing a Yanks’ official.

Update 5:17 p.m.: For what it’s worth, Baggarly has updated his blog post to reflect his info that the Brewers may now be the frontrunner. A few reports have the Yanks ready to go hard after A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe as well, but that doesn’t mean Sabathia is completely out. Either this is building to a head or it’s a Vegas-inspired Red Herring.

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Because everyone’s already talking about, here you go: Andrew Baggarly reports on the Mercury News Extra Baggs blog reports that CC Sabathia has declined the Yankees’ offer. He writes:

It’s been confirmed to me that the Giants had discussions with CC Sabathia’s camp last night, and they expect to have face-to-face meetings with the left-hander in San Francisco after the winter meetings.

It sure must’ve have been a productive discussion, because word is that Sabathia has declined the Yankees’ six-year, $140 million offer. (I must stress that’s unconfirmed, but talk is spreading fast. If true, look for the Yanks to get hyper-aggressive on A.J. Burnett.)

Let me say this: Beware unconfirmed rumors. They are unconfirmed, obviously.

Second, it makes no sense — none — for Sabathia to reject the Yanks’ offer. He loses all bargaining position in doing so, and the Giants, Angels or Brewers would have no reason to come close to the Yanks’ generous offer. Even if he has no intention of signing with the Yanks, he is far better served to keep the Yanks’ offer alive.

I don’t buy this one, but there you go.