Derek Jeter may be credited with an assist when CC Sabathia officially joins the New York Yankees.

Jeter said he phoned Sabathia, who ESPN reported is on the verge of signing a record contract for a pitcher, at the left-hander's request to talk about the Yankees and New York.

"He wanted to talk to me, so I called him up," Jeter told reporters at the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings in Las Vegas. "I said there are opportunities as a free agent, look at all your options and make the best decision for you."

The Yankees are close to signing Sabathia to a seven-year, $160 million contract, ESPN reported, citing a person in baseball with knowledge of the talks. General Manager Brian Cashman met with Sabathia in Las Vegas and also flew to northern California to meet with the 2007 Cy Young Award winner.

Jeter declined to reveal the details of his conversation with Sabathia. He said in general, players want to know what it's like to live in New York with a family. Sabathia, 28, has a wife and three young children.

While the deal isn't official, Jeter said he was excited about a pitcher of Sabathia's caliber coming to a team that's trying to rebound after missing the playoffs last season.

Sabathia went 11-2 with a 1.65 earned run average for the Milwaukee Brewers in the final three months of the season after being traded from the Cleveland Indians.

"All you can say is how great of a pitcher he is," Jeter said after a news conference for the World Baseball Classic. "Any team in baseball would love to have him."