The signing of CC Sabathia is having a positive effect on other free agents:

Additionally, WEEI's Lou Merloni, who played with Lowe, says he is now more interested in the Yankeees because of CC Sabathia.

Compare that to the lament of Dave O'Brien at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

Players do not want to come to Atlanta the way they used to want to come to Atlanta. Especially pitchers. It's still more attractive than a majority of the 30 teams in baseball, but not necessarily more attractive, or even as attractive, as a handful or more big-money, big-market teams competing for top players.

Much of that has to do with the facts that A., the Braves have missed the postseason for three years running, and will have to knock off the defending World Series champions and/or the new-stadiumed, deep-pocketed N.Y. Mets to get to the playoffs in 2009; and 2., the Braves are competing against a few teams, one in particular (hint: pinstripes), that are spending far more money than the Braves.

The most famous example was Greg Maddux turning down more money from the Yankees to pitch for Atlanta. Now, both Lowe and Burnett may prefer pitching for the Yankees.