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Comment by Marlon Wickles on September 25, 2009 at 4:51pm

HEY I KNOW YOU LOVE SPORTS COME CHECK US OUT AT Team-superstore.com

Comment by Travis Pyan on July 6, 2008 at 8:51pm

Deal sending Sabathia from Indians to Brewers nearly done

July 6, 2008
By Scott Miller
CBSSports.com Senior Writer
Tell Scott your opinion!



The C.C. Sabathia Era in Cleveland is all but officially finished: The sliding Indians have an agreement in place to ship the left-handed Cy Young winner to the Milwaukee Brewers, CBSSports.com has learned, in a blockbuster deal that could have a dramatic impact on the NL Central race.

The deal, pending medical examinations and paperwork, will send Sabathia to Milwaukee for three prospects, including a top one in outfielder Matt LaPorta, sources with knowledge of the talks told CBSSports.com. It could be announced as early as Monday.

With Sabathia and All-Star Ben Sheets atop their rotation, and with each eligible for free agency this winter, the Brewers clearly are reaching for the stars now. Milwaukee, which has not participated in the playoffs since 1982, moved into a tie for second place with St. Louis on Sunday, just 3½ games behind the Chicago Cubs.

The expected addition of Sabathia should provide an incredible lift to the Brewers, who already rank sixth in the NL in ERA and field a young lineup that took last season's playoff chase into the final week of September before falling out.

Sabathia last started for Cleveland against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday, coming away with a no-decision in a 6-5, 10-inning loss. Sabathia started slowly this season -- 0-3 with a 13.50 ERA -- but over his past 14 starts has gone 6-5 with a 2.16 ERA.

He professed a love for Cleveland and a desire to return, but the Indians in talks declined to offer the kind of long-term -- six or seven years -- deal that the New York Mets granted Johan Santana (six years, $137.5 million).

With Sabathia and Sheets, 10-2 with a 2.77 ERA, the Brewers will have a right-left combination atop their rotation that is unsurpassed in the NL -- and a 1-2 punch that could be devastating in the postseason, if the Brewers can get there. And, of course, if each pitcher can stay healthy. Sheets in particular has a history of nagging injuries.

The Sabathia sweepstakes came down to the Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers, as CBSSports.com's Danny Knobler reported earlier Sunday. It is believed that the Indians spoke with the Dodgers about a package that would have included outfielder Matt Kemp, but the Dodgers also are looking for a shortstop (Pittsburgh's Jack Wilson? Toronto's David Eckstein?) and Milwaukee clinched the deal for Sabathia by offering a package centered on LaPorta, the highly touted outfield prospect the Brewers selected with the seventh overall pick in the 2007 draft.

Tabbed by Baseball America as the top overall prospect in Milwaukee's organization, LaPorta, 23, came to the Brewers as a first baseman but, with Prince Fielder appearing to be ensconced there for the long-term, they moved him to left field.

But the Brewers this season moved slugger Ryan Braun to left from third base at the major league level. LaPorta, known as a bat whose glove is almost an afterthought, is viewed by scouts more as an American League player, where he could wind up as a designated hitter.

While the Brewers strengthen themselves dramatically with Sabathia, the Indians, who won 96 games and moved to within one victory of a World Series appearance in 2007, appear poised for a dramatic alteration: They designated closer Joe Borowski for assignment Friday, and they struck quickly in moving Sabathia well before the July 31 trade deadline.

And, clubsthe Indians have spoken to say they're preparing to move significant other pieces.

"They've had their scouts out looking at other clubs' farm systems, Triple-A, Double-A, even Class A," one NL executive says. "They've had guys out looking at the farm systems of contenders looking to add players -- the Cardinals, the Cubs, the Phillies, Milwaukee.

"Their scouts are just going to keep going until they get pulled back."

The Indians are actively shopping starter Paul Byrd, according to sources, who say they might also deal infielder Casey Blake and reliever Rafael Betancourt and might even discuss injured catcher Victor Martinez.

Among the things Cleveland is intent on acquiring are young, impact position players. The Brewers, as Knobler reported, told the Indians that they could have only two of their top five prospects -- but not LaPorta and Double-A Huntsville shortstop Alcides Escobar in the same package.

The Indians have been down this road before, and with great success:

In June, 2002, Cleveland general manager Mark Shapiro traded then-ace Bartolo Colon to Montreal for three prospects: current center fielder Grady Sizemore, second baseman Brandon Phillips and left-hander Cliff Lee, who is a leading candidate to start next week's All-Star Game.

The deal is expected to be announced in time for the Brewers to get two starts out of Sabathia before next week's All-Star break, both in Milwaukee -- Tuesday against Colorado and Sunday against Cincinnati.

CBSSports.com senior writer Danny Knobler contributed to this report.

Comment by Brewer fan on July 4, 2008 at 8:12pm

So how does everyone feel about the possibility of Sabathia being a Brewer?

Should we give up LaPorta for him?

Comment by Travis Pyan on June 24, 2008 at 10:00pm

Big 4-3 win over ATL. Could be only 5 games out as Cubs are down 7-1!

Comment by mike on June 22, 2008 at 8:35pm

turnbow is doing better in triple a. His era is down to 11. I think Hall is being treated like ass. Let's move him around 5 times a season and wonder why he can't concentrate on hitting. What the hell is with all the boston pics travis. Are you a boston fan or was that the 1st vacation w/o mom so you are showing off.

Comment by Travis Pyan on May 19, 2008 at 2:27pm

Find more photos like this on SportsFanHuddle.com

Comment by HowBoutThemCowboys on May 15, 2008 at 1:36pm

Comment by CLARKtoys.com on May 13, 2008 at 3:37pm

Comment by Travis Pyan on April 4, 2008 at 4:36pm

Kicking some A$$ today, way to go Prince.....

Comment by Schepp on April 1, 2008 at 1:20pm

Great win yesterday. Gwynn Jr was the man! I hope Gagne shows me better stuff in the future.

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