Don't expect CC Sabathia's tenure in a Brewers uniform to last long. Scott Boehm/Getty Images Jon Heyman's Mailbag Got a question or comment for Jon? Name: Email: Hometown: Question: SEND Follow Jon Heyman on Twitter

CC Sabathia, who hails from Northern California and currently lives there, is building a home in Southern California. So it's obvious his heart is on the West Coast.

But will the rest of him follow as a free agent this winter?

Quite possibly. But not all baseball people believe it's a lock that he will sign with a California team as a free agent this winter.

Five executives who know Sabathia were asked whether they believe he will follow his heart or the money, and there's a split about how heavily he'll lean toward signing with a California team. Two executives opined that he's surely bound for California ("he isn't a New York guy,'' said one) and would be shocked to see him go to the Yankees or any other big-market East Coat team. But three others said some version of "money talks.''

A couple of those executives who think he'll follow the money do tab the Yankees, who have a whopping $88 million in contracts coming off the books, as the favorite to sign the Vallejo, Calif. product. The word from those three executives is that while Sabathia does indeed prefer California, he won't give the California teams a discount.

Sabathia's asking price is expected to be a deal to match Johan Santana's $137.5-million Mets contract from last winter, and if he doesn't get there, he should get close, particularly after carrying an ERA of about 2 since late April and sparking the Brewers, who understand Sabathia is only a "rental'' for them and appear resigned to him leaving via free agency.

The Yankees didn't want to give up the prospects to go for Santana and will continue to emphasize youth under GM Brian Cashman, assuming he himself doesn't leave via free agency at season's end. But the Yankees do appear primed to make a big push for Sabathia.

According to executives, the Dodgers seem to be the most likely West Coast landing spot for Sabathia, who is 9-8 with a 3.51 ERA (and 3-0 with a 1.88 ERA since joining the Brewers). They'll probably lose Derek Lowe to free agency, often play the free-agent market and have the bucks for Sabathia, who's only enhancing his value by continuing to pitch well in the National League (and hit well, too).

The Angels already have the best starting pitching in baseball and haven't seemed inclined to go for a nine-figure deal in the past (outfielder Torii Hunter got $90 million). But they do have the money, have been known to pull a surprise or two and could still make it an L.A.-vs.-L.A. fight by bidding on Sabathia.

Among the other West Coasters, the Giants have spent big on free agents but might want to avoid repeating the $126-million Barry Zito debacle. Others don't see a comparison between the two, and suggest no one should worry about that happening. Zito's a "touch and feel guy. CC's a power guy,'' one AL executive said. The other two California teams, the A's and Padres, never play for major free agents.

Dodgers in mix for Street, too

At least the Dodgers and White Sox had scouts at the A's game at Tampa last night, and those are two teams in the mix for Huston Street, whose so-so season could keep down the price on him (he's 17 for 22 on save tries). The Brewers also have scouted Street, who didn't get into Monday's game. The Yankees, Rays, Mets, Phillies and Red Sox (though Justin Masterson should help them) and Mets are among other teams who could be in the relief market, as could the Diamondbacks (though a switch to the pen for starter Micah Owings might help).

The Dodgers appear most interested in a reliever, especially after losing closer Takashi Saito at least until September, and a shortstop. Some execs think the Dodgers should be looking to upgrade their offense, but maybe they know best, as they beat the Rockies 16-10 on Monday night in a game in which the Rockies scored in the final seven innings (exposing L.A.'s current bullpen) yet still got blown out. L.A.'s offense seems to have improved since Don Mattingly took over as hitting coach after the All-Star break.

The relief market isn't bad, with closers Brian Fuentes and Damaso Marte available and another closer, Baltimore's George Sherrill, expected to be available, as well. Ron Mahay is having a big year for the Royals, and could help someone. And if the Braves fall out of it, perhaps Mike Gonzalez and Will Ohman will be on the market, as well. Jon Rauch, Chad Bradford and Arthur Rhodes are some other accomplished relievers who could be dealt.

Steve Blass problems getting around

Rich Hill has had trouble throwing strikes wherever he's pitched in the Cubs organization. If he can get back to the way he pitched last year, when he was 11-8 with a 3.92 ERA, that would make the Cubs even better. But it appears that he's still working things out. He has 28 walks in 26 innings for Class AAA Iowa now.

Meanwhile, Hill told Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe that he isn't suffering from Steve Blass Disease, and that he's simply struggling. Perhaps he isn't afflicted by the dreaded control problem that felled the former Pirates pitcher, but I can't recall a year in which so many pitchers are showing signs of the dreaded Blass Disease.

Derrick Turnbow has 41 walks in 18 innings for the Brewers' Class AAA Nashville team. Tom Gorzelanny had 61 walks in 87 2/3 innings for Pittsburgh before being demoted (the good news is he has only three walks in six innings at Class AAA Indianapolis). And Dontrelle Willis had 21 walks in 11 2/3 innings before his demotion to Class A Lakeland (good news: he has only three walks in five innings there).

Around the majors

• Andruw Jones doesn't have Steve Blass Disease. But he appears to have something. Jones is batting .166 with two home runs and 11 RBIs. And that's for the season, not the month. He's going so bad that the Dodgers had his eyes checked, and his vision, which is said to be better than 20-20, wasn't the problem.

• The Yankees were hoping to get by without acquiring a hitter. But with Jorge Posada, who looked like he might be relegated to DH duties anyway, now joining Hideki Matsui on the DL and a threat to miss the season, they may have to make a deal yet. They do not want to part with their better prospects, so they may have to concentrate on players whose salary is high and contractual situation isn't ideal. How about Adam Dunn? The Yankees don't seem to love him. But at $13 million this year and with free agency pending, the Reds couldn't expect too much in return.

• Eventually, Posada's going to have shoulder surgery so he could be back catching fulltime by next year. And Jose Molina's done a nice job in his place, throwing out 25 of 52 would-be basestealers. But it's not impossible the Yankees could have to consider looking for a catcher this winter, and if they do, it would be interesting to see if they'd consider Jason Varitek, Boston's heart, soul and captain. Varitek is believed to be seeking a four-year contract, and there's been no evidence of progress on that front with Boston, which likes to limit the length of deals to its 30-something players, even its beloved 30-somethings.

• Corner infielder Casey Blake is turning himself into a decent trading chip for Cleveland, raising his average all the way to .287 from the low .200s. Both New York teams could be in the mix there.

• Adam Loewen has retired from pitching after his latest arm ailment and will attempt to convert to a hitter, a la Rick Ankiel, who once suffered from that Steve Blass thing. Ankiel's conversion has been amazing. But that's a lot easier said than done.

• Diamondbacks third base coach Chip Hale is a hot name as a managerial prospect.

• The addition of Rich Harden easily makes the Cubs the favorite. One AL star took it a step further, saying, "Lou's got a lock now.'' (This is a person who obviously doesn't know much Cubs history.) The Cubs better not draw Arizona in the playoffs again, considering that the D'backs' No. 3 starter is Randy Johnson, who is 13-0 against them in his career.

• The Yankees are looking at Mariners' lefty Jarrod Washburn.