C.C. Sabathia traded to Brewers
by Jay
on Jul 6, 2008 7:36 PM EDT
Both ESPN and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel are now reporting that the Indians have reached an agreement to trade C.C. Sabathia to the Brewers. The Indians will receive OF/1B Matt LaPorta, the seventh overall pick in the draft just one year ago, along with two other players, both presumably lower-level prospects.
The Brewers, loaded with talent at the Double-A and Advanced-A levels and eager to make a big move for the 2008 postseason, always appeared to be the most logical and likely trade partner for the Indians, and they reportedly pushed the Indians to complete a deal tonight so that Sabathia can make a Tuesday night start in Milwaukee. Starting on Tuesday, rather than Thursday, means that the Brewers will get two starts out of Sabathia prior to the All-Star break, in addition to 15 starts in the second half.
LaPorta was a consensus Top 25 prospect in the offseason, rated as Milwaukee's best prospect by Baseball America and a five-star prospect by Baseball Prospectus. Three months into the 2008 season, he has done nothing to dispel those high ratings, putting up a .288/.408/.576 line and leading all of Double-A with 20 home runs. The other two players the Indians are getting are not yet known, but the package is believed not to include 3B Mat Gamel or SS Alicedes Escobar. Advanced-A 3B Taylor Green and Double-A CF Michael Brantley have been mentioned in some reports.
LaPorta immediately becomes the best prospect in the Indians organization, or at worst a very close second to Triple-A LHP David Huff, another first-rounder having an outstanding season.
Sabathia was drafted by the Indians out of high school in 1998, weeks before his 18th birthday, and he was summoned to the majors to start the 2000 season at age 19 with barely more than a year of professional experience under his already sizable belt. Sabathia spent 8.5 seasons with the Indians, and more than any other one player, he led last year's squad to the best record in baseball, winning the Cy Young for his efforts.
For Indians fans under 40, Sabathia is simply the best Indians pitcher of our lives.
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FWIW, unless I am reading it incorrectly, ESPN is simply sourcing the Journal Sentinal. I don’t think ESPN is independently reporting it; not that that makes is untrue.
by TonyH on Jul 6, 2008 7:40 PM EDT 0 recs
The big moment arrives…and I’m numb to the whole thing. Just like with Colon, and Justice and other players I really liked. Good move for the future, just hated that it had to happen.
by mjschaefer on Jul 6, 2008 7:43 PM EDT 0 recs
I like Justice, now.
Dear Mr. Sabean, I hear you have a reputation of being stupid. Want to deal Lincecum or Cain? You can pick THREE of these 4 players for either: Borowski, Dellucci, Blake, Byrd.
by westbrook on
Jul 6, 2008 9:02 PM EDT
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If CC faces the Rockies on Tuesday, Jeff Baker gets to hit another home run.
by odradek on Jul 6, 2008 7:43 PM EDT 0 recs
heard this guy is in the deal Jonathan Lucroy
this was over at the brewers’ reporters blog and simply by a poster…who claimed that he, Laporta, and Green were in the deal.
by hans on Jul 6, 2008 7:44 PM EDT 0 recs
Interesting… a catcher. BA had him 16th to Taylor Green’s 17th heading into the year. I knew we weren’t sold on Cain
by cheech99 on
Jul 6, 2008 7:46 PM EDT
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I wonder if this season will end up as a blessing in disguise. The team was obviously flawed and probably would have had a hard time against a strong playoff field this season. No way we trade Sabathia without falling out of contention first. Maybe Hafner will even fix whatever’s ailing him with the time off and we’ll have him back next year as well.
I’ve always kinda liked the Brewers, but especially since they rented out their stadium/fans for us at the start of 2007. I hope they get some good dividends from C.C. for the next few months.
by Pronk33 on Jul 6, 2008 7:45 PM EDT 0 recs
A total and absolute collapse is far more tolerable. Think how agonizing this would have been had there been hitting and starting pitching, and the bullpen sucked as bad as it has. Or if we had to agonize through Sowers and Byrd while trailing the White Sox by two games. Or if we continued to lose great starting pitching with 2-0 and 2-1 scores. This season is like losing an 11-0 game. Far easier to stomach than a 3-2 loss when the other team score twice in the eighth inning.
by odradek on
Jul 6, 2008 7:52 PM EDT
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I had a similar thought. This roster never quite reached its potential and just kind of ran out of gas.
by fleerdon on
Jul 6, 2008 8:06 PM EDT
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I was expecting the deal to happen today, before Sunday Night Baseball – nice to steal some of the attention from the Red Sox-Yankees game…
Yankees and Red Sox - MLB's Axis of Evil
(And ESPN is right in the middle)
by Spidey on Jul 6, 2008 7:48 PM EDT 0 recs
I can’t reiterate enough how much I love C.C. Sabathia. As a human, as a pitcher, as a teddy bear.
Also! LaPorta. I’d post a gif of his swing or something but I don’t want to slow the loading.
Steel Nick
by nickjs21 on Jul 6, 2008 7:54 PM EDT 0 recs
Here’s another possibility that we can’t rule out either: We sign Sabathia at the end of THIS year.
We all know that CC is a very emotional person. That being said, I think it’s perfectly possible that he gets “homesick” while he is with the Brewers, and comes back to the Indians for next year. Maybe he’ll take less money or years to work it out.
Of course, there are a million other possible outcomes from this and where he eventually does sign for next year and beyond. But wouldn’t it be awesome to have aquired 3 of the Brewers top prospects AND have CC back next year? Come on, I can dream can’t I…
Either way, I hope CC wins a ring with the Brewers this year, and that LaPorta is the next A-Rod.
by Proder1039 on Jul 6, 2008 8:04 PM EDT 0 recs
I know this is well-intentioned and all but I have to take issue with this again:
C.C. is all over the record talking about the Vallejo, CA as his home, even going as far as to say things to the effect of, I love Cleveland, but Vallejo is my home.
If given his choice of being anywhere in the world, all other factors being similar, he’s not choosing Cleveland. That doens’t mean he won’t re-sign here (there are a dozen other reasons for that) but it means that if he does it won’t mean because he misses Cleveland.
by afh4 on
Jul 6, 2008 8:08 PM EDT
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I agree with you, but I think when most people talk about him missing Cleveland, it’s more to the effect of him missing the Indians as an organization.
I don’t think the Indians have a realistic chance at signing him in the off season, but I think any chance we have is because of the organization and the fact that CC does seem to like it and his teammates. Otherwise, it’d be more akin to the Santana sweepstakes last year, which Shapiro mentioned as being the only free agent/trade bait out there the Indians didn’t even make a phone call about. The Tribe will be involved in talks with CC, at the very least at the beginning of the process, simply because we’re Cleveland and nobody else is.
Il faut d'abord durer.
by CU Adam on
Jul 6, 2008 8:20 PM EDT
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I can halfway get on board with that but I just think if you believe there’s an emotional component involved here with Cleveland you have to believe that it’s overwhelmed by the emotional component associated with NorCal.
by afh4 on
Jul 6, 2008 8:25 PM EDT
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That may be true. But I definitely feel like whatever CC feels for the Indians will be enough to get Shapiro a meeting with his people in November.
Il faut d'abord durer.
by CU Adam on
Jul 6, 2008 8:29 PM EDT
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What more do you want or really expect? It’s more than we likely would have gotten had he not come up through the system. We’re the Indians. We don’t get to keep our big guys after a certain point. That’s the way the game has been played.
Il faut d'abord durer.
by CU Adam on
Jul 6, 2008 8:36 PM EDT
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Word from Olney was that they made a big jump in their offer and told him, if you don’t want to make a deal now, that’s okay, we understand. We’re going to trade you, but we’ll talk again in the offseason.
Could the Indians actually pull off an anti-Thome, where they (1) refuse to give a player trade veto rights in a contract extension, (2) trade the player for good stuff before he can walk, and then (3) sign him in the offseason anyway?
It’s highly unlikely, but you have to commend Shapiro for just making it possible. He got #1 and #2 done, which is more than John Hart ever did.
by Jay on
Jul 6, 2008 8:33 PM EDT
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Isn’t the ‘97 Lofton to Atlanta for Grissom et al. trade a precedent for this?
by ganatz on
Jul 6, 2008 8:37 PM EDT
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Sure, it’s a precedent, but that’s not the point. Trading a player away surely doesn’t make a team more likely to sign that same guy in the offseason. We were never all that likely to get C.C. to agree to an extension, and it became extremely unlikely when he cut off contract talks in the offseason.
It remains extremely unlikely now — not because of this trade, but not in spite of this trade either.
by Jay on
Jul 6, 2008 8:41 PM EDT
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I guess we just have to commend Shapiro for just making it possible – which is more than John Hart ever did…
by ganatz on
Jul 6, 2008 9:00 PM EDT
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Longoria is the next A-Rod. And Laporta is no Longoria.
Dear Mr. Sabean, I hear you have a reputation of being stupid. Want to deal Lincecum or Cain? You can pick THREE of these 4 players for either: Borowski, Dellucci, Blake, Byrd.
by westbrook on
Jul 6, 2008 9:05 PM EDT
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Here’s B-Ref on Laporta
and the two players that have been rumored in as well:
by hans on Jul 6, 2008 8:05 PM EDT 0 recs
The one thing I like about this deal is all 3 players (either Lucroy or Brantley, it works with either one) seem to be polished hitters, according to their stats.
by Cols714 on Jul 6, 2008 8:14 PM EDT 0 recs
I sent out a mass text about 45 minutes ago to any friends that would care to hear the news.
My friend in Chicago’s response: F*CK!
My friend in St. Louis’ response: This is not good.
Tremble, NL Central.
Steel Nick
by nickjs21 on Jul 6, 2008 8:14 PM EDT 0 recs
For Indians fans under 40, Sabathia is simply the best Indians pitcher of our lives.
Amen. CC will be missed. GL in Milwaukee CC. Here’s to the Crooked Cap becoming the next Babe Ruth.
by obobcatu on Jul 6, 2008 8:14 PM EDT 0 recs
John Perrotto over at Baseball prospectus is saying that Green is indeed in the deal, but the third prospect hasn’t been announced.
by hans on Jul 6, 2008 8:15 PM EDT 0 recs
I would guess that “hasn’t been announced” = Brantley, with more due diligence needed due to his recent minor injury.
by Jay on
Jul 6, 2008 8:16 PM EDT
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ok now he’s retracting a bit and says that Green is “also said to be in the deal, though that has yet to be confirmed”
and I added the hasn’t been announced yet part, so I wouldn’t read into it.
He also says that Escobar and Cain aren’t in the deal according to his sources
by hans on
Jul 6, 2008 8:18 PM EDT
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This makes me sad. Don’t get me wrong, I know this had to happen, and I’m excited to see who we get in return, but it’s CC. Oh well, at least he gets to hit now. I guess the Brewers just became my NL team.
by amarie on Jul 6, 2008 8:15 PM EDT 0 recs
I thought I was ready. Now I’m just depressed.
At least it was to the Brewers. I’ve been rooting for the Brewers since those snow-out makeup games last year.
by Julie on Jul 6, 2008 8:32 PM EDT 0 recs
Blargh. It’s a nice haul for CC, to be sure. But, still, I’m more affected than I would have thought.
Railing against the sacrifice bunt since 2000.
by jdudas on Jul 6, 2008 8:32 PM EDT 0 recs
Do you think LaPorta will be moved back to his original position, 1B? He was only moved because Prince Fielder is the Brewers long term 1B. The Indians don’t have that problem and LaPorta can probably start at 1B the rest of the year if the Indians were so inclined.
by Cols714 on Jul 6, 2008 8:35 PM EDT 0 recs
From what I’ve seen from the various prospect sites, first base seems to be his ultimate destination.
by Ryan on
Jul 6, 2008 8:39 PM EDT
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I would guess he goes to AAA shortly, then possibly a September callup.
by Ryan on
Jul 6, 2008 8:40 PM EDT
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I think that’s right. Hopefully he comes to ST next year already penciled in as a starter.
by Cols714 on
Jul 6, 2008 8:49 PM EDT
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I don’t know if I’d start his clock this season, given that the team isn’t really doing anything worthwhile. I can wait.
Jay, any ideas on how LaPorta’s contract/time/arb status is?
I did a Google image search for "Andy Marte." It turned up zero results.
by emd2k3 on
Jul 7, 2008 12:48 PM EDT
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Good luck, CC. Get good wood on the ball, and don’t get hurt running the bases, ‘cause I want to watch your 200th victory. And maybe #300.
by InfiniteMonkeyTypists on Jul 6, 2008 8:37 PM EDT 0 recs
While all this outpouring of emotion is quaint, realize that there is no longer room for it from the participants’ side. Even CC’s agent stands to clear over $10mil from this upcoming FA transaction. GMs cannot afford to allow emotion enter into these discussions if they care to keep their jobs. From the moment a phenom turns into a productive star, the days are numbered until a big market team scoops him up. It doesn’t have to be this way. But it is this way. CC gets his guaranteed $130mil and we get to pray for the next phenom.
by elsandito on Jul 6, 2008 8:52 PM EDT 0 recs
Aw, crap. Rotoworld is reporting that A-Rod’s wife is going to file for divorce on Monday.
The Sabathia trade will be something like the 4th most talked about event tomorrow on ESPN.
Steel Nick
by nickjs21 on Jul 6, 2008 8:52 PM EDT 0 recs
“And, elsewhere in the majors, C.C. Sabathia was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers. We’ll be right back…”
by odradek on
Jul 6, 2008 8:56 PM EDT
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I listened to the “baseball show” on ESPN radio for 3 hours and they mentioned the Sabathia trade one time. Of course, once the official news broke they called in Olney to talk about it. But still …
by Toxicadam on
Jul 6, 2008 9:33 PM EDT
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There will be more talk about it once the other players are reported, and once it becomes official.
And who cares?
by Jay on
Jul 6, 2008 9:52 PM EDT
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I was outside sealing my driveway for 4 straight hours dying to now what happened. SOME talk would have been appreciated.
by Toxicadam on
Jul 6, 2008 10:14 PM EDT
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as a life long brewers fan and indians fan as well I appreciate all of the following and cheering you seem to be doing for the brewers now! you guys got a great player and future all star in laporta! hopefully cc gets us over the hump, into the playoffs, and maybe to the series! he will be loved in milwaukee just as much as he was in cleveland!
by Baseball Card on Jul 6, 2008 8:57 PM EDT 0 recs
I appreciate the sentiment, but unless CC wins game 7 over the Red Sox for you guys, I have a hard time believing Milwaukee will like CC as much as we have for the past 8 years. I definitely will be rooting for that to happen, though.
Il faut d'abord durer.
by CU Adam on
Jul 6, 2008 8:59 PM EDT
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haha well maybe not the love fest you have had since you’ve lived and died with the guy for so long…but if he gets the brewers deep into the playoffs and into the WS…you don’t understand how passionate the brewers fans are and how they attach themselves to players…
hell look at how high we got ryan braun in the all star voting…not to mention corey hart will probably get in the last vote too
by Baseball Card on
Jul 6, 2008 9:07 PM EDT
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Someone will loose their job for this trade. The last time I heard a prospect was “guaranteed” was Marte. How is that turning out? I’d rather see Cleveland suck it up and sign CC than give him to Milwaukee for a player who is hitting well in AA ball. CC IS the greatest pitcher I’ve ever seen in an Indians uniform and now the team just gives him away. This is a very sad day indeed. Just when I thought this season couldn’t get any worse, my team goes ahead and trades my favorite player and its best pitcher for a guy in AA. Wow, I don’t think I could more disappointed with this team and its management. CC you were a great player and person to root for and I will always be a fan.
by Conso on Jul 6, 2008 9:06 PM EDT 0 recs
Yes, this is the hard hitting analysis we needed.
Proud supporter of the Cleveland.
by fwembt on
Jul 6, 2008 9:42 PM EDT
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What hard hitting analysis would you like? I do not think this is the end of the world, but you are kidding yourself if you think some kid in AA who can make up for the talent lost in CC.
by Conso on
Jul 6, 2008 10:08 PM EDT
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But that’s a false choice, Conso. It’s not about trading CC for LaPorta (and others), it’s about the ability to re-sign Sabathia. If we can sign him, we get one outstanding prospect plus two (or three?) other prospects in exchange for not having CC around for 3 months of a lost season—something for nothing, in essence. If we were not going to be able to resign him, which I think is far more likely, then we got a top prospect plus two (or three?) other prospects in exchange for two draft choices. In either case, it’s a no-brainer, and the only question would be did we get the most we could?
Your analysis only makes sense if you assume that we would have re-signed CC had we not traded him, and that having traded him he is un-signable.
"A good body with a dull brain is as cheap as life itself."
by Fiddlesticks on
Jul 6, 2008 10:14 PM EDT
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You’re right. And that is the assumption that I am making. I think the team has shown its hand and it wants no part in paying CC market value to keep him.
by Conso on
Jul 6, 2008 11:16 PM EDT
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Which, as much as it sucks, could very likely be the best thing for this team.
by Voltaire on
Jul 6, 2008 11:17 PM EDT
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You had heard of Grady Sizemore when he was in A-ball and anticipated that he would become a much better player than Colon? No. LaPorta is an absolute stud and as close as we can get to a sure thing. This season is over so all CC was doing was costing money.
Proud supporter of the Cleveland.
by fwembt on
Jul 6, 2008 10:20 PM EDT
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don’t let the AA thing fool ya…Laporta would be on almost any other AAA roster right now but the brewers have a system of keeping players together as they bring them up…and they had 10 all stars on the AA team…so I’m pretty sure a few of them could be up at AAA…I think you will be happy with this deal when you see how much CC signs for in the offseason and the success Laporta will bring…Here’s to hoping it works out for the Indians as well as the Brewers…my two favorite teams!
by Baseball Card on
Jul 6, 2008 9:10 PM EDT
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There’s still time for you. I felt the same way after the Colon trade. Dig a little deeper.
by dgcambridge on
Jul 6, 2008 9:12 PM EDT
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You’re the type of guy who ran the Pirates for 15 years before Huntington took over last year. C.C. Sabathia was an AA pitcher at one time. Good players come from somewhere.
by xrickx on
Jul 6, 2008 9:14 PM EDT
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In fact someone may lose their job over this trade. If a couple of key Brewers get hurt or the club stops hitting. Suddenly, the “rent-an-ace” idea will be criticized by every Monday morning qb in Milwaukee.
by elsandito on
Jul 6, 2008 9:19 PM EDT
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We could have traded him for Coco Crisp, Or Kenny Lofton, if he were on a team.
by odradek on
Jul 6, 2008 9:53 PM EDT
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Hamilton anticipated this reaction this afternoon. He said fans will hear the Indians have traded CC for someone in AA and groan. But LaPorta isn’t your typical AA player, says Hamilton.
by odradek on
Jul 6, 2008 9:59 PM EDT
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I completely disagree. CC is the ace of the team and he is better than Colon was in this situation. Name me a pitcher on the Tribe that is/was better than CC over the past 15 years. Name me a player that has more experience on this team than CC. Shapiro, Wedge, and the management do not have the best track record in analyzing players over the past 3 years and I’m not sold on the great Brewers farm system either. Are any of these prospects established? No. Because they are prospects. If the Brewers have all these can’t loose prospects, then why haven’t they at least made the playoffs in the past 2-3 years? I’m sure this kid is a great minor league talent; however, I know for a fact that CC is a great major league, left-handed fast ball pitcher who will be worth the money is is going to be paid. Also, I don’t have to dig a little deeper on this one. Colon, Ramirez, Thome all left when Cleveland was headed into “rebuilding” mode. I understood that. However, the time is now to try and win a championship and keeping CC can only be a part of that equation. I will not be an apologist and the only way this situation can be reconciled is if the team goes out and signs CC in the off season.
by Conso on
Jul 6, 2008 10:01 PM EDT
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I can’t begin to analyze this post..
Name me a player that has more experience on this team than CC.
Does not reflect on LaPorta.
Are any of these prospects established? No. Because they are prospects.
Did you just shoot your own observation down?
If the Brewers have all these can’t loose prospects, then why haven’t they at least made the playoffs in the past 2-3 years?
Because prospects are players that haven’t been in the majors in the last 2-3 years. E5, is that you? Have I been baited?
Steel Nick
by nickjs21 on
Jul 6, 2008 10:08 PM EDT
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Exactly, prospects = unproven talent. Marte was a can’t miss prospect and this kid could turn out the same way. You made my point for me. This is about what the team is losing as much as who this LaPorta kid could be in the future. Feel free to give your end of why this is a great trade for the tema though, I’m not going to stand in your way
by Conso on
Jul 6, 2008 10:10 PM EDT
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