Brewers Snare Sabathia for Prospect, 2 Minor League Pitchers
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The Cleveland Indians, staring free agency in the face for 28 year old ace 2007 Cy Young winner CC Sabathia (6-8, 3.83 ERA), pulled the trigger on a deal trading Sabathia to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for outfield prospect Matt LaPorta, minor league pitchers lefthander Zach Jackson and Rob Bryson and a player to be named later.
Related report;
Prospects analysis for Sabathia trade, by Jonathan Mayo (MLB.com)
PA Sportsticker contributing writer Todd Krepop provides background on the deal for Yahoo sports;
The Indians entered the 2008 season with hopes of winning their first World Series title since 1948 as they returned every key player from last year’s team that finished a game short of reaching the World Series.
But injuries to sluggers Travis Hafner (shoulder) and Victor Martinez (elbow and hamstring), and starters Fausto Carmona (hip) and Jake Westbrook (elbow), along with one of the worst bullpens in the majors, forced Cleveland and General Manager Mark Shapiro to start looking at 2009 and beyond as the Indians fell into last place in the American League Central Division.
“With four players on the DL and disappointing performances in the bullpen leave us in the juncture we are at,” Shapiro said.
Cleveland and Sabathia talked about a contract extension prior to spring training, but were never close to an agreement. With Sabathia set to test the free agent market at the end of the season, Shapiro felt it would be better to trade Sabathia for prospects instead of collecting two draft-picks if Sabathia left as a free agent.
“We made a trade that we thought would be of great value,” Shapiro said. “With the uncertainty that draft picks are three-to-five years away from contributing, we thought it was important to explore trade alternatives.”
Shapiro said seven teams expressed interest in the burly lefthander and he felt that there was more value to trading Sabathia now than waiting to July 31 - the trading deadline.
The key to the deal for Cleveland is LaPorta, who was seventh overall pick in the 2007 First-Year Player draft. LaPorta was rated the Brewers top prospect entering the season by Baseball America and hasn’t disappointed. The 23-year-old has hit 20 home runs and has 66 RBI in 84 games at Class AA Huntsville of the Southern League.
“(LaPorta) has the potential to be a run-producing corner for years on our team,” Shapiro said. “He has already proven to be one of the best hitters in the minors and we feel he can be one of our core players going forward.”
LaPorta will report to the Indians Class AA affiliate in Akron, Ohio on Tuesday. LaPorta will start in the outfield, but will also see action at first base, a position he played at the University of Florida.
“We have a (need) for impact players,” said Shapiro. “Hopefully we lessened that need today.”
Bryson, who is 20, will report to Class A Lake County. The righthander is 3-2 with a 4.25 ERA in 22 games and has struck out 73 batters in 55 innings. Bryson started the season as a starter, but moved to the bullpen where he has collected five saves.
“He has a good arm and a dominant track record and high strikeouts,” Shapiro said.
Jackson, who appeared in two games with the Brewers this year, will report to Class AAA Buffalo. Jackson was 1-5 with a 7.85 at AAA Nashville.
“We feel he is a guy that adds depth to our bullpen,” Shapiro said.
Even with the Indians heading towards a possible last place finish, Shapiro is hopeful that Cleveland will rebound next year.
“The bulk of our talent is still here,” he said. “Good times are coming ahead. I have a feeling we will contend for a division title next year.”
Time will tell if Sabathia is able to adjust to the change in leagues and strike zones and can make an impact on the Brewers’ second half of the 2008 season.
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