"The Yankees will make an offer to exceed Johan Santana's $137.5-million contract today to top target CC Sabathia and closely follow that bold first strike with proposals within the next day or two to two more star free-agent pitchers, A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe, SI.com has learned.

The Yankees' aggressive three-pronged free agent pitching approach puts them in position to dominate the free-agent market. The three offers together are expected to total in the $250 million range.

The Yankees are hoping to blow away the field for Sabathia, who prefers to play in California if all things are equal, then fashion the rest of their rotation from a very strong free-agent market for pitchers. The Yankees don't expect immediate acceptances from all three pitchers, but one competing executive said, "I wouldn't be shocked to see the Yankees sign all three guys.'' (That's probably a long shot, however.)

The Yankees expect Mike Mussina to make his decision whether to return for another year sometime next week, but they are still expecting him to retire. Two-time Yankee Andy Pettitte appears to be a fallback option at this point -- though his chances to return are quite possible barring affirmative answers form the three outside free-agent pitching targets they covet."