NEW YORK — Free-agent season opened Friday with the New York Yankees planning to give CC Sabathia a record offer for a pitcher.

The Yankees formulated a proposal to the big lefty that would exceed Johan Santana's $137.5 million, six-year contract with the New York Mets both in total and average, a baseball official familiar with the negotiations said. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to divulge details.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman was to make the offer to Sabathia's agents, Greg Genske and Scott Parker, either on Friday or in the next few days, the official said.