MLB

TROUBLE BREWIN’ IN YANKS’ CC CHASE

Prior to Yankees GM Brian Cashman’s meeting with CC Sabathia yesterday in Las Vegas, there was a feeling in the baseball universe the stud free-agent lefty would eventually re-sign with the Brewers.

Since the Yankees’ six-year, $140 million has been in front of Sabathia for more than a month, there are reasons he hasn’t taken it. A popular theory is, he doesn’t want to work in The Bronx.

Another is that his wife, Amber, is encouraging him to wait for an offer from a West Coast team that may not be coming – that is, unless the Bay Area product wants to work cheap for the Giants.

Now, there is talk of the Brewers, who have offered five years for $100 million, exploring ways to entice the 28-year-old Sabathia, who went 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA in 17 starts after being acquired from the Indians.

According to a source who has talked to the Brewers, the club has enough money to sweeten the pot and offer “contract flexibility” that could include an opt-out clause after three seasons.

The Yankees have believed it’s been between them and the Brewers for a while. The Angels and Giants are looking for hitters before pitchers.

The Angels want to retain switch-hitting first baseman Mark Teixeira, and the Giants are dangling pitcher Jonathan Sanchez in search of a bat but not finding success. They are not shopping hurlers Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain.

“It would have to be a total default position in terms of years and dollars,” a person with knowledge of the Giants’ position said, regarding Sabathia landing in San Francisco.

While the Yankees’ focus has been on bolstering a rotation that currently houses Joba Chamberlain (who could land in the bullpen if enough starters are secured), plus Chien-Ming Wang and three colossal holes, they haven’t forgotten about upgrading an offense that underachieved last summer – and will lose Bobby Abreu and Jason Giambi, not offered arbitration.

This past week Cashman traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with Teixeira and agent Scott Boras, who also represents free-agent chuckers Derek Lowe and Oliver Perez and controversial outfielder Manny Ramirez.

According to Boras, 10 teams were interested in Teixeira early in the process, “and that has been reduced to six or seven.”

george.king@nypost.com