Sabathia's preference is to play on the west coast, sources say. He might also prefer to remain in the National League, making him an obvious fit for the Dodgers.
However, the Dodgers' intentions are an open question.
The team is facing the losses of several major free agents — left fielder Manny Ramirez, right-hander Derek Lowe, shortstop Rafael Furcal and third baseman Casey Blake.
The Brewers, meanwhile, would demonstrate to their fans that they indeed were serious about keeping Sabathia if they offered him $100 million for four years.
In fact, such a proposal would be stunning from a team in a mid-sized market, a team that opened last season with an $81 million payroll.
The Brewers, facing a number of pressing issues, likely will want an answer on Sabathia quickly, giving them a chance to explore other options, if necessary.
The team needs to hire a manager — former A's manager Ken Macha is the front-runner, sources say — and also must decide whether to exercise center fielder Mike Cameron's $10 million option within five days after the World Series.
For all the talk about Ramirez, agent Scott Boras likely will find it much easier to create a market for first baseman Mark Teixeira, who is expected to be a primary target of three high-revenue teams — the Yankees, Red Sox and Angels.
While the Red Sox currently do not have an opening for Teixeira, they could sign him due to their concerns over third baseman Mike Lowell and designated hitter David Ortiz, then make the pieces fit later.
Lowell, recovering from surgery on his right hip, is expected to be out until at least mid-March. It's unlikely a team would take a chance on him before seeing him play. Then again, Casey Blake and Joe Crede are the only prominent free-agent third basemen, and some club might bite on Lowell if it were satisfied with his medical progress.
Lowell, who is owed $24 million over the next two seasons, does not have a no-trade clause.
The Braves and Padres remain at an impasse in their trade discussions concerning right-hander Jake Peavy, sources say.
