The Milwaukee Brewers Trade for CC Sabathia
Baseball July 6th. 2008, 8:31pm.png)
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Buster Olney is reporting is reporting that the Cleveland Indians just dealt 2007 Cy Young Award winner CC Sabathia to the Milwaukee Brewers for two packs of grape Big League Chew, four jars of Guava jelly, Tivo, and a mint condition Bumblebee transformer. (Our error – we’re watching Yankees-Red Sox and the damn scroll said Buster broke the story.)
The tears are flowing in Cleveland (and the expletives are flying). The Indians, languishing in the AL Central cellar 14 games under .500, have thrown in the towel even though Drago doesn’t have Apollo Creed on the ropes and the White Sox pitching staff has incredibly overachieved. (Interestingly, back in Spring Training, Olney predicted the Indians would win the World Series.) The Brewers – just 3.5 games back of the Cubs in the NL Central – now have a rather fearsome two-some in Ben “Contract Year” Sheets and Sabathia.
106 Responses to “The Milwaukee Brewers Trade for CC Sabathia”
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July 6th, 2008 at 8:35 PM
Thank you Mark Shappiro. Look out Cubs fans.
July 6th, 2008 at 8:35 PM
Say what?
July 6th, 2008 at 8:37 PM
fixed, Nick
July 6th, 2008 at 8:38 PM
Good trade for the Brewers, they’re gonna have 5 first rounders, barring a crappy team signing Sheets or CC after the season.
July 6th, 2008 at 8:38 PM
time will tell if floyd and danks are overachieving or living up to their billing, but considering buehrle has the next best ERA at 3.9something and vasquez and contrerrrras are both over 4, i wouldnt say theyre doing much overachieving, moreso doing a mediocre job and getting bailed out by the pen
July 6th, 2008 at 8:41 PM
the indians aren’t even near-death
moleman – do a search on this site for what i guessed about Gavin Floyd in the preseason … my only right baseball call all season!
July 6th, 2008 at 8:42 PM
“…for two packs of grape Big League Chew, four jars of Guava jelly, Tivo, and a mint condition Bumblebee transformer.”
You’re right, it’s not like they got Matt LaPorta, one of the best hitting prospects in the minors, or anything.
July 6th, 2008 at 8:42 PM
Gammons says that Milwaukee “hopes to sign him.”
My ass.
July 6th, 2008 at 8:42 PM
btw, Webb/Haren > Sabathia/Sheets
July 6th, 2008 at 8:43 PM
the indians aren’t even near-death
What does this mean?
July 6th, 2008 at 8:43 PM
what the hell
July 6th, 2008 at 8:46 PM
I think I’d rather have the two draft picks than LaPorta, but that’s just me. Next year’s draft isn’t supposed to be the greatest, I guess.
Floyd=overachieving, Danks=For real.
July 6th, 2008 at 8:47 PM
Laporta really limits his potential value by being such a terrible fielder.
July 6th, 2008 at 8:48 PM
even if floyd is overachieving, that still is one of the worst hindsight trades in recent history. especially if gio is any good (which he should be …. ugh kenny williams, UGH). is garcia even in the league anymore?
July 6th, 2008 at 8:53 PM
kenny williams being a bad GM is old news, Garcia is supposedly gonna make a comeback after the AS break.
I don’t think LaPorta will be that bad in LF. He’s athletic enough to improve and make it work, or since it’s the AL he can go DH.
July 6th, 2008 at 8:55 PM
2007 cy young winner
1 game away from world series
obviously we wont know for a few years how good (or bad) this LaPorta guy turns out to be, but as an Indians fan, are you happy with this quantum leap backward?
July 6th, 2008 at 8:58 PM
were they realistically going to be able to hold onto him after this season though? he already turned down one extension right? while i dont know anything about the indians farm system, they arent loaded with talent in the outfield corners, seems like a decent trade to me.
July 6th, 2008 at 9:01 PM
but as an Indians fan, are you happy with this quantum leap backward?
Am I happy that they’re 37-51 and in last place? No, I’m quite upset about that.
Am I happy they traded Sabathia and got something in return, instead of keeping him to finish out the season and getting a couple draft picks? Yes.
July 6th, 2008 at 9:03 PM
Given the state of the team this season, I’m elated that they’re not going to let CC walk with only draft picks as compensation. It sounds like there are 3 prospects headed Cleveland’s way, including a blue chipper that addresses a major weakness in their minor league system, that being a power corner guy.
July 6th, 2008 at 9:04 PM
agreed
ps – Nice piece in ESPN the Mag about Olney hanging with Webb.
That offense, that 1-2 combo … why couldn’t they have made a run at the ChiSox?
July 6th, 2008 at 9:05 PM
Braves just won in the bottom of the 17th.
July 6th, 2008 at 9:07 PM
Clearly I am not happy about this, but maybe if the Cubs earn it and win this division people will stop bitching about how terrible they are.
Zambrano/Dempster > Webb/Haren > Sabathia/Sheets
/Just kidding, I’m no Wrigleyville d-bag
July 6th, 2008 at 9:07 PM
level of importance:
power corners or SP?
July 6th, 2008 at 9:09 PM
Jesus, somebody test Fernando Tatis for HGH pronto.
SP >>> Power corners
July 6th, 2008 at 9:11 PM
That offense, that 1-2 combo … why couldn’t they have made a run at the ChiSox?
Four of their seven best players got hurt, their offense sucks, their bullpen sucks, and they’re 14 games out of first place, in July, behind four teams.
Do you need more reasons?
July 6th, 2008 at 9:12 PM
position players > starters
July 6th, 2008 at 9:14 PM
when your season is over, blue chip outfielder > fatass you have no chance of holding onto, regardless of how good they are
five years from now would they rather say ‘man we finished in last place but at least we got to have CC the whole season’ or ‘last place, but at least we got some building blocks for the future that have panned out’
July 6th, 2008 at 9:15 PM
As a fan, I can see your frustrations, but two teams last year, the Yankees and Phillies, made nice rallies to reach the postseason. Just one man’s take, but losing Sabathia keeps the Tribe out of the postseason for the immediate foreseeable future.
Good write-up here on the guy the Tribe got
July 6th, 2008 at 9:18 PM
LaPorta is a first baseman. We know you are doing your best, but try and keep up. Unless CC ate his Cy Young award, I think we can refrain from calling him a fatass.
July 6th, 2008 at 9:19 PM
Check that, I drank too much this weekend. LaPorta is an outfielder at this point in time.
July 6th, 2008 at 9:22 PM
As a fan, I can see your frustrations, but two teams last year, the Yankees and Phillies, made nice rallies to reach the postseason. Just one man’s take, but losing Sabathia keeps the Tribe out of the postseason for the immediate foreseeable future.
Was either team ever 14 games out and in last place? No. Both of those teams are also a lot better than this Indians team. They are not comparable. At all.
The Indians were going to lose Sabathia after this year anyway. They gave up three meaningless months of him for one excellent prospect (and whatever the other two guys end up being). I don’t see how this is so complicated.
July 6th, 2008 at 9:24 PM
I still feel like I’m on a boat.
Hendry’s going to make a move before the trade deadline. Make sure CC stays away from the brats or he won’t even be able to waddle out to the mound.
July 6th, 2008 at 9:24 PM
Milwaukee is loaded at the Double AA level with talent. It’s ridiculous. Not sure Sabathia will lead them to the playoffs, but with all the talent Milwaukee has in the minors giving away a couple of those guys is no big deal.
I’m still not a believer in St. Louis being there in the end. We shall see though.
July 6th, 2008 at 9:25 PM
go fuck yourself
July 6th, 2008 at 9:28 PM
solid opinions here … guess we’ll know how this pans out in a couple years
July 6th, 2008 at 9:29 PM
Have you SEEN the Indians? Have you looked at the lineup they threw out there today? Do you know how bad Andy Marte is?
July 6th, 2008 at 9:31 PM
Did the Brewers pick up Borowski to replace Gagne? That would be so great…
July 6th, 2008 at 9:31 PM
Has it been announced who the other 2 guys are that the Brewers gave up?
July 6th, 2008 at 9:34 PM
To call Matt LaPorta a bumblebee transformer is downright insane. Thinking the Indians were going to make a run is even more insane. It’s like this Jason Varitek thing has set off a chain reaction of insanity.
July 6th, 2008 at 9:36 PM
im not sure if im the indians i would have been better off keeping CC and trying to compete and being content with getting the draft picks.. but in any case, its a decent haul for a rent-a-player.. la porta can mash.. he’ll take over hafner’s spot by next year at the latest and do a decent job of it at that.
July 6th, 2008 at 9:37 PM
Has it been announced who the other 2 guys are that the Brewers gave up?
No, and it is driving me nuts. I just want to move on with my life already.
July 6th, 2008 at 9:39 PM
@fetch and vegas..the only other guy being named currently is taylor green..
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AjjHhwnrN7zCRB7gd0LA5ok5nYcB?slug=jp-brewerssabathia070608&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
July 6th, 2008 at 9:40 PM
Joba throws behind Youk, who takes a step or two toward the mound, then pulled back …
July 6th, 2008 at 9:43 PM
Megatron?
other 2 throw ins?
July 6th, 2008 at 9:48 PM
Still waiting for someone to mention a prospect that Kenny Williams has traded who has turned into an impact player in MLB? Anyone?
July 6th, 2008 at 9:49 PM
I’m a little surprised that Angel Salome wasn’t included in the deal, or at least pursued a little harder.
July 6th, 2008 at 9:52 PM
Old School, TBS
VV: “Always smiling, judging, watching, look at the baby, look at the baby.”
July 6th, 2008 at 9:52 PM
Hey mole, you seem to have your trades mixed up. The Sox traded the “great prospect” Jeremy Reed to Seattle for Garcia. They traded Garcia to the Phillies for Gavin Floyd and Gio Gonzalez (whom they had traded to Philly in the deal for Thome.) They then included Gio in the package to Oakland for Swisher.
July 6th, 2008 at 9:53 PM
obviously not yet but i really think theyre going to regret trading gio. maybe he thought they were deep enough with floyd and danks that they could spare him, which could well be the case, but i think what they got in return wasnt worth it.
July 6th, 2008 at 9:53 PM
been reading about the Brewers farm system, and it appears as if they have gold, silver, and bronze prospects. The Tribe just got their silver or bronze, which, I suppose, isn’t terrible.
Had the Indians had better offers?
/still in a post-July 4 haze
July 6th, 2008 at 9:54 PM
You don’t think having Nick Swisher signed to a reasonable deal for the next five years is worth a guy who may or may not even make it to the big leagues?
July 6th, 2008 at 9:54 PM
no i know that, i was saying that trading floyd and gio for garcia was a horrible move on phillies part in hindsight, and that i didnt like williams trading away gio to oakland, i could have worded that better though, made them run together
July 6th, 2008 at 9:54 PM
Because the White Sox, Twins and Tigers are all better than them top to bottom and their bullpen makes the Tampa unit from last season look like the Reds’ Nasty Boys from 1990
I’m pretty sure the Tribe just showed this past week why CC was expendable for this season
July 6th, 2008 at 9:54 PM
Hi, I’m Chris Young. Pleasure to meet you.
July 6th, 2008 at 9:56 PM
Indeed…didn’t like that deal at the time and I’ve never really warmed to Javy but it’s kinda hard for me to get assy with Kenny over that move when so many others have worked out brilliantly
July 6th, 2008 at 9:56 PM
that one was a heart breaker, seeing the duke go after his performance in the playoffs was tough
July 6th, 2008 at 9:57 PM
Will this keep the Royals out of the Central cellar for good? Awesome. Keep batting Sizemore leadoff. That’s also working awesome for you Cleveland.
July 6th, 2008 at 9:57 PM
@ssimac: The Carlos Lee trade was particularly awful.
July 6th, 2008 at 9:58 PM
The Chris Young with the career .298 OBP?
July 6th, 2008 at 9:58 PM
I can’t wait to boo him when he returns to Cleveland as a Yankee.
C.C. you in hell!
July 6th, 2008 at 9:59 PM
The Carlos Lee trade allowed the Sox to spend his money on AJ and Jermaine Dye…I think it worked out pretty well.
July 6th, 2008 at 9:59 PM
they dont win that world series without podsednik though. a sentence which should never be typed.
July 6th, 2008 at 9:59 PM
I like how ssimac thinks that trades are all about what makes a good GM.
2002 first round pick- Roger Ring
2003- Brian Anderson
2004- Josh Fields
2005- Lance Broadway
2006- Kyle McCulloch
2007- Aaron Poreda
Yeah, he’s awesome. 2 (?) of those guys even have a chance.
July 6th, 2008 at 10:00 PM
Huh? Podsednik was fantastic in 2005 and even for most of 2006 (Luis Vizcaino also acquired in that deal won Game 3 of the World Series too to boot), I’ll take a World Series win over another few seasons of Carlos Lee hitting home runs for a mediocre team (it’s what he does best)
July 6th, 2008 at 10:00 PM
I think ESPN sees themselves as the New York Times. It’s not news until they say it’s news.
July 6th, 2008 at 10:00 PM
Keep batting Sizemore leadoff. That’s also working awesome for you Cleveland.
You’re right. I’d say the main problem with the Indians is that Grady Sizemore is batting leadoff. If he was hitting third, they’d be doing so much better!
July 6th, 2008 at 10:00 PM
I like how fetch thinks that having blow job books written about you are what makes a good GM.
July 6th, 2008 at 10:03 PM
Great scene approaching in Old School
man, the first 30 mins is great
(it’s still no wedding crashers, though)
July 6th, 2008 at 10:03 PM
The Sox won 1 division title since 2000 correct?
July 6th, 2008 at 10:03 PM
So what’s your defintion of “impact player” then? A Hall of Famer? Then no, he hasn’t traded any Hall of Famers from his farm system. He’s the best.
July 6th, 2008 at 10:03 PM
But the Sox do draft poorly…I can’t argue with that. Of course, this year was their first time drafting in the top 10 since 1990. And they’re cheap with their draft picks—-and when they’re not (Joe Borchard) they get burned.
July 6th, 2008 at 10:03 PM
I love “ESPN has learned.” From now on I’m going to begin all my blog posts “Odds and Sods has learned” without links so I can be journalistically credible.
July 6th, 2008 at 10:03 PM
That’s correct fetch…one division title and one world series.
July 6th, 2008 at 10:04 PM
What about Scotty Pod’s baseball-ref page is fantastic?
OPS+ starting in 2005: 86,75,73…from a corner outfielder. He blew.
July 6th, 2008 at 10:05 PM
Well lozo, the better question is what’s your definition of an impact player? A guy who strikes out a ton, hits some homers and plays the outfield? There’s hardly any of those guys around.
July 6th, 2008 at 10:05 PM
so 1 time they proved they were the best in their division, and once made it through a crapshoot.
I’m surprised Miller and Morgan criticized Derek Jeter
July 6th, 2008 at 10:06 PM
you arent suggesting that them not being in the world series every year would reflect poorly on williams would you? because thats what you jumped down my throat for saying about billy beane
July 6th, 2008 at 10:06 PM
And everyone pointing out how bad Kenny drafts is key in this argument. Tough to trade impact minor-league guys when you never draft them.
When Jon Rauch and Chad Bradford have turned out to be two of the best prospects that you’ve traded, that’s a problem. Jeremy Reed is another stud prospect drafted by Kenny.
July 6th, 2008 at 10:07 PM
Are you including 2000? Because they won the division title then too.
July 6th, 2008 at 10:07 PM
sarah shahi in the SUV … she ended up being the hooker in Vegas that Tony Soprano slept with
yes
July 6th, 2008 at 10:07 PM
Got on base, stoles a few bags and scored runs…plus they needed a decent leadoff hitter more than another masher like they had in Lee
Neither team lost in that deal…Sox got a World Series and the Brewers got a couple solid seasons from him and then dealt him away to Texas
July 6th, 2008 at 10:07 PM
It’s only because it was so glaringly awful they couldn’t blame it on Giambi. He’s really terrible going to his left, why does no one mention this?
July 6th, 2008 at 10:08 PM
some homers = 30 homers = no big deal from a 24-year-old = not having an impact on a major league team.
Got it. Next question.
July 6th, 2008 at 10:09 PM
Hayden Christensen has more range than Derek Jeter
July 6th, 2008 at 10:11 PM
mole- where does mentioning 1 division title have anything to do with making the world series every year? Someone up there said stick to soccer, I’d listen.
ssimac- You’re right, I forgot about 2000, I thought it was the tribe.
July 6th, 2008 at 10:11 PM
Holy Shit that was funny Butters….I hate Hayden Christensen’s whining face
July 6th, 2008 at 10:12 PM
fantastic
i recommend watching Awake – it’s not terrible
July 6th, 2008 at 10:15 PM
well i didnt say world series when i mentioned beane, im just being a prick. but how is saying that the whitesox performance (making the playoffs once every six or so years) can reflect poorly on williams, but the a’s performance of not winning but one playoff series in beane’s reign cant reflect poorly on him
how is it fair to criticize one GM of his team’s performance but not another GM? explain that to me. in soccer terms if you wish.
July 6th, 2008 at 10:15 PM
*for his teams performance, that is
July 6th, 2008 at 10:17 PM
Well I don’t think anyone wants to get into the whole playoffs are a crapshoot theory, but they are. Since I’m too lazy to look up the years the A’s won the division, I’ll take the Twins. They won the division in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006, and could in 2008. If they do, that’s half the division titles in the decade, but at the least 4/10. That’s a better run than one division title and one world series. As a fan I’d rather have the WS obviously, but 4 division titles is a better achievement.
July 6th, 2008 at 10:21 PM
i believe the a’s have won four since beane took over.
the consistency argument is a good point, but yeah as a whitesox fan i would rather have the 05 title than several division titles in that span. but if it were between the division titles and not making the playoffs, thats an obvious choice. id rather make the playoffs consistently and not win than not make the playoffs consistently. i didnt think the sox would do much this year, but there was hope for something at least; thats better than my roommate who is a pirates fan and has zero hope of the playoffs anytime in the next decade
July 6th, 2008 at 10:24 PM
and for the record i dont think williams is a bad gm, he has made a few trades i havent agreed with (garland, swisher) but he got results. that WS team was a team that really was built, and i give him a ton of credit for that. had they not won that WS, i dont think hed have a job right now.
July 6th, 2008 at 10:32 PM
Still on that wagon TBL? One of the worst movies I have ever seen.
July 6th, 2008 at 10:34 PM
re: prospects
So Richie Weeks is having another awful year.
He was always on those ‘Top 10 prospect’ lists.
any clue?
July 6th, 2008 at 10:36 PM
is awake that shitty movie about someone hearing doctors were going to kill him?
July 6th, 2008 at 10:36 PM
It costs like $4 to rent this movie. You mean to tell me it’s not worth $4 to watch this on a lazy Wednesday night in the summer? I bought it (!) prior to a plane ride and watched it and was surprised it wasn’t awful. I’m obligated to see anything with Jessica Alba (although by rule, if Mike Myers is involved, I am allowed to pass), thus the viewing.
July 6th, 2008 at 10:47 PM
without seeing the movie i can say without any shred of doubt its not worth any money
July 6th, 2008 at 10:53 PM
let’s see…here on the west coast its either NY-Boston for the 3000th time, that lame “til death” show with the dork from that lame “everyone loves Ray” show on Fox, or animals killing people…..I think Ill take door # 3, Monty…
July 6th, 2008 at 10:57 PM
To give TBL a little credit, me waking up during surgery is one of my biggest fears, although that is like 1/10th of that awful plot line.
July 6th, 2008 at 11:06 PM
thank god for the Simpsons to save the evening….
July 6th, 2008 at 11:23 PM
i’m not sure i have ever agreed with TBL on a movie opinion until now (i thought wanted was just dreadful) but awake is a decent movie to watch on a slow sports night during the summer, i agree completely.. original story line at least
July 6th, 2008 at 11:24 PM
and fetch kicked all your asses in the white sox/ kenny williams debate.. good god lol
July 7th, 2008 at 2:35 AM
TBL -
You need to find a RedBox by you – it is only a dollar to rent dvds.
(it’s still no wedding crashers, though)
Yeah because old school is better than wedding crashers. My main problem with Crashers is that it becomes a romantic comedy in the last act, it was a comedy classic until that point, but the film really dies down as soon as Owen Wilson and that chick from mean girls become involved in a love story. Still a solid comedy, but what could have been…
———————-
I hope Laporta becomes the next Brandon Phillips – struggles in cleveland, clashes with Wedge and gets shipped away for nothing only to become a star.
July 7th, 2008 at 3:19 AM
Butters BC: exposed as a baseball idiot. After Nick correctly pointed out how awful his OPS+ was with the White Sox he goes on to say how great he was at getting on base. Podsednik’s Eqa’s from ‘05-’07? .253, .236, & .229. That takes into account his stolen bases and those numbers are, um, below average.
The Dodgers disagree.
July 7th, 2008 at 8:01 AM
I can only speak to what I saw that entire season and the guy was a difference maker for the club. Is he as good of a player as Carlos Lee? Of course not but as I said before they had a bigger need for a decent leadoff hitter more than another bomber so the move was needed
That trade worked out just fine for KW and the Sox based on the results
July 7th, 2008 at 11:49 AM
You’re not kidding, this Richie Weeks guy is so bad I’ve never even heard of him.