If you're a Major League Baseball team that has a big star with a big contract that you're looking to dump, you better be sure you've got the Los Angeles Dodgers on speed dial.
The New York Post reports that the Dodgers have inquired with the Yankees about the possibility of acquiring CC Sabathia or Mark Teixeira from New York. According to the report, the Yankees currently have no interest in dealing either of the high-paid All-Stars.
The Dodgers have hit the ground running under new ownership, acquiring Hanley Ramirez from the Marlins last month before taking on $260 million worth of contracts by acquiring Josh Beckett, Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Nick Punto from the Red Sox over the weekend.
After this season, Sabathia still has four years and $99 million left on his contract, while Teixeira will earn $90 million over the next four full seasons.
Of course, acquiring Gonzalez from Boston probably changes the dynamic of things considering both he and Teixeira play first base.
The New York Post's Joel Sherman suggests that if the Yankees were to seriously entertain the thought of dealing Sabathia and/or Teixeira, it would make sense for them to try and include Alex Rodriguez's massive salary in the deal.
The same kind of tactic is likely how the Dodgers were able to pry Gonzalez from the Red Sox, with Boston adding the burdensome contracts of Beckett and Crawford as part of the swap. Rodriguez still has five years and $114 million on his contract after this season.
