Prince Fielder--photo courtesy of gbfan/flickr
Brewers and the Rays frontrunners for Sabathia?
What?
Huh?
Did someone just say the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays were the front-runners for a stretch-drive run with the services of one C.C. Sabathia? That’s right fans in Tribeland, it looks like these two teams, if not at the front of the line for Sabathia, are slowly elbowing their way up.
The Rays find themselves at 47-31, and only a half-game behind the Boston Red Sox for first place in the A.L. East. For those counting at home, the Rays have the fourth best record in baseball, and are potentially looking for an ace to put them over the edge. Combine that with the fact that the Rays are trying to create enough interest to build a new ballpark, and you have the potential perfect storm in wanting a player of Sabathia’s stature. It doesn’t hurt that the Rays are generally considered to have the best minor league talent in baseball.
The Brewers are rolling along at 43-35, and are in third place in their division, behind the Cubs by six games, and the Cardinals by three. Still, the Brewers are streaking in the right direction, winning eight of their last ten, and want to avoid the August and September swoon of last year that kept them out of the playoffs. The Brewers also have good, young talent, but already at the major league level. With a minor league system loaded with corner infield prospects, it’s believed that the Brew-Crew might be willing to let go of one of their brightest, current stars to acquire the hefty-lefty from the banks of the Ohio.
Do either have what it takes?
The Rays
You couldn’t be a GM and not salivate over the bevy of prospects in the talent-heavy Rays organization. I’m not sure how many prospects Shapiro would be looking for from the Rays, but I’m sure it would be a bundle along the lines of the Dan Haren deal. Of course, they would have to be better bundle of players than the A’s got, and the Rays could certainly entertain a better deal with their talent. It’s tough to say which player would be at the top of that list for Shapiro.
Would it be 22-year-old righty Wade Davis? Davis is a 6′5″, 220 pound right-hander. He’s the complete package, with outstanding command and poise. His heat runs in the upper-90’s, and he has an above average curve. What could make him special are his changeup and cutter, which have gone from bad to better over the past year-and-a-half. He’ll be a #1 or #2 starter down the road. Davis has a couple of no-hitters in the minors.
You could be talking about Jake McGee, a 6′3″ lefty who specializes in strikeouts. He has three plus pitches, a fastball, curve and changeup. He had the third highest strikeout total in the minors over the past two seasons, and is continuing that trend this season. He’ll turn 22 in August.
Also climbing up this list is 21-year-old right-hander, Jeremy Hellickson. Hellickson is making a ton of noise in A ball, having gone a combined 20-4 over the past season and a half, with 189 K’s, and only 39 walks so far. Yeah, you read that right. Hellickson is an aggressive pitcher, who knows how to throw strikes. He’s not a big kid, at 6′1″, and has a solid 93 MPH fastball that he can locate. He has a 10-4 curve that is his out pitch, but uses his plus changeup often. He is very much in the mold of Scott Kazmir, without the injury issues.
On the top of this list for Shapiro is sure to be lefty David Price, the 2007 #1 pick who is storming through the Rays minor league system. Shapiro has scouted Price, a Vanderbilt grad (Jeremy Sowers, Jensen Lewis), for years, and would covet the lefty. Price has the make-up and competitive fire, to go along with an arsenal of plus pitches. He has a mid-to-high 90’s fastball, a wicked slider that can break both in and out, and a plus changeup that will break the backs of hitters. The 6′6″ lefty is believed to be off limits, but Sabathia may be the one guy they’d deal him for.
There are also a handful of position players options that the Rays could put in a deal, starting with shortstop Reid Brignac. Brignac is a 22-year-old shortstop, who many think might be more inclined to play third base. He’s got good power and speed, scores a bunch of runs, and is becoming a solid, infielder. He’s the kid that works his tail off, and becomes the face of a franchise for his hard work. He’s not going to be ARod, but he’ll be an above average ballplayer for many years.
Desmond Jennings is all about upside. He’s for sure a five-tool guy in the mold of Carl Crawford. I think he holds more potential for power, but many are wondering if he isn’t just an athlete trying to play baseball. He excelled in football, baseball and basketball in college. Still, he would be a nice add-in for Sabathia.
Really, the strength of a deal for the Rays would be the starters we would get in return. The Rays have three that are near major-league ready, and one future stud. If Cleveland would get two of the top three, and Jennings as well, it would be hard to turn down.
The Brewers
This one will be a lot easier to talk about. The focus of this deal appears to be on one Prince Fielder. I know, I know, why would the Brewers trade Fielder when he seems to be the cornerstone of the franchise. Doug Melvin isn’t stupid. He knows that he can’t sign Fielder to a long-term deal with Scott Boras as Fielder’s agent. He also sees Ryan Braun as the real cornerstone of the team at this point, and with guys like Mat Gamel and Matt LaPorta in the minors at the corners, he also knows he has some guys that can fill Fielder’s spot long term. He would gain Sabathia to add to a rotation that needs him, and it might seriously put the Brewers over the top in the N.L. for the wild-card slot, and potentially for the division. It would also keep the Cubs from getting their hands on Sabathia as well.
The reality?
Cleveland needs to get back a stud position player or two, along with a potential stud pitcher. I don’t see the Rays with the position player, although I would say getting three of those four pitchers would be a coup, but not realistic. Still, I can’t get it out of my head that the Rays are going to have a new stadium on the referendum in the next year-and-a-half, and adding Sabathia and making a run at the playoffs may be a smart-long-term plan. I like the players the Indians could get, and if you threw in a couple of others (Casey Blake, Rafael Betancourt, etc.), you could grab a couple of major league ready players as well. Would the Rays make that gamble? If they are still in it in July, count on them making a play.
The Brewers makes absolutely no sense to me. I would love to have Fielder, another player of that roster, and perhaps a Gamel, but why would the Brewers deal Fielder before they would lose him to a big contract, to get Sabathia, who they would lose to a big contract? If they move closer to the Cubs, and past the overrated Cardinals, I will believe in a deal like this more. Until then, I would say the likelihood of this trade is nil, unless there are other players involved, which would be likely.
I’ll put the chances of a Rays deal for Sabathia at 40%, and a Brewers deal far less likely, at 5%. Of course, it’s still only June, so you just never know.
Ahh, trade talk…it’s good to be back.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, June 26th, 2008 at 4:36 pm and is filed under Mark Shapiro, Tampa Bay Rays, Jensen Lewis, Casey Blake, Rafael Betancourt, David Price, Desmond Jennings, Jake McGee, Mat Gamel, Doug Melvin, Wade Davis, Jeremy Hellickson, Matt LaPorta, Jeremy Sowers, Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, Prince Fielder, A.L. East, St. Louis Cardinals, Cleveland Indians, James Pete, Scott Kazmir, Ryan Braun, Reid Brignac, Tribe Report.
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23 Responses to “Brewers and the Rays frontrunners for Sabathia?”
June 26th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Right after I wrote this article, this was posted right here at MVN.
My guess is this might make a deal a bit more delicate, with the Rays…
June 26th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
LaPorta has been converted to an outfielder and is two years away in the Brewers’ opinion and is likely off-limits since he can be converted to first base; Gamel is off-limits as well.
The Brewers can spare CF Tony Gwynn, Jr. (as Cameron would play CF in ‘09, then Hart in ‘10 when LaPorta takes over in right), IF/OF Hernan Iribarren, OF Mel Stocker, P Tim Dillard and could throw in P Carlos Villanueva; Gwynn is the big name and out of options after this year, so he’d be the most likely to be included, with P Tim Dillard also thrown in. My guess is that Brewers’ GM Doug Melvin would want to make this move during the All-Star break, so he could get plenty of starts out of Sabathia this year still.
June 26th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
I’m pretty sure anyone who’s followed the Rays knows for a fact that the Rays wouldn’t trade away Price. I’m not trying to knock you or anything, but there’s no way the Rays would give up Price, even for Sabathia.
And Wade Davis has nearly reached that untouchable status as well, but I think for the caliber of player that Sabathia is, I think Fieldman would be open to letting Davis go.
Brignac probably won’t be touched either. He’s going to be filling a very vital hole in the Rays roster. Bartlett’s doing great as a fill in, but the rather obvious idea is that he’s just there until Brignac is ready, and we’re not about to throw away one of the key (and planned) components of our team for a pitcher that we’d most likely not sign for next season.
Ultimately, I think the realistic trading pieces that the Rays can offer are Hellickson, Jennings, McGee, and possibly Davis. We (the Rays) have a couple of other developing outfielders who are showing promise (Royster, Perez) that make Jennings expendable, and our farm system is full of pitchers, making Hellickson, McGee, and Davis worth giving up for Sabathia.
June 26th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
And upon reading the McGee report, just cross him off the list. My mistake, and my thoughts and prayers go out to him, because I’ve been fortunate enough to watch him play and meet him afterwards and I know the passion he has for the game is going to make this difficult for him.
June 26th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
David Hartman–
I hear what you’re saying about Price, which is why I said I think he’s untouchable…
but…when you take into account the new stadium piece to the puzzle, a splash move for a Cy Young award winner, combined with a run to the playoffs could be just the ticket to get people on board.
I agree that Price is probably untouchable, but anyone who watches baseball knows that untouchable is rarely untouchable…unless you are Mark Shapiro, and overrate your minor league system. Price should be as close as it gets though.
I actually would work out a deal with the pieces you listed there at the end, minus Price. I just know that Shapiro will start there, before moving on.
Jennings scares me a bit. He seems to have all the tools, just doesn’t own the key to the tool box quite yet. He borrows it here and there, but he’s got awhile to go.
David Hannes–
I don’t think Cleveland would pull the trigger on a deal where Tony Gwynn Jr. is the major piece of the puzzle from Milwaukee. Seriously, we are talking about the reigning Cy Young award winner who has a 2.16 ERA after his first four woeful starts of the year. Nothing against Gwynn Jr. or anything, but I doubt very much he’s the guy they are licking their chops over. If Cleveland is, I’ll stop being a fan the day that deal happens.
He’d be your ace, hands down.
If LaPorta (who most certainly would be moved to first base if Fielder moves by the break, or the offseason, which is why I called him a corner infielder) and Gamel are off limits for Sabathia, and Fielder isn’t on the table…
there won’t be a deal anywhere close to happening between Milwaukee and Cleveland.
June 26th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
By the way guys…good to have you rollin’ over here.
Deal or not, it sure is fun to talk about…
JP
June 27th, 2008 at 6:23 am
I don’t know a whole lot about the Brewers, but I think the main issue with Fielder isnt exactly the amount of money he is asking for, its what he provides for the money he is asking for. I think the Brewers, after signing Braun and other young guys, might be looking to invest more money in their pitching staff instead of their lineup. Also, don’t forget that they tried to extend Fielder around the time they reuped with Braun, and it got ugly. Again just speculation, but I think Fielder and a pitching prospect might be enough to get it done. I would like to see Fielder in a Tribe uni, but not without being able to resign him.
If we could get Brignac, who I believe is pretty close to being ready, I would do that deal with Tampa Bay. I think Davis, Brignac, and one other guy for CC and Blake would really help both teams a lot. That would allow the Tribe to put Marte at third for the rest of the year and see what he could do, keep Brignac and Davis down in AAA for a bit then call them up later in the season to get them experience. Also, if the Ray’s GM is stupid enough to offer up Price, the Tribe should accept no questions asked. It will never happen, but one can dream.
Also, don’t trade Betancourt, hes an every other year guy, as most of our bullpen is, and should hopefully return to his dominant self next year.
June 27th, 2008 at 7:09 am
I don’t think the Tribe would pull the trigger for Gwynn and Dillard, either, nor should they…I think Melvin realizes he got burned last year dealing away Inman for Linebrink and seeing Linebrink leave. Gamel is necessary to replace Hall at third in a year or two, and I think they are too high on LaPorta at this point to spare him…and, as you said, need insurance in case they can’t re-sign Fielder.
The Brewers want to sign Fielder and made him at least one offer prior to the start of this season for a 4-year deal (his three years of arbitration plus a fourth year), and Boras turned it down. Fans would stay away in droves if they traded Fielder during a playoff race…especially since Fielder is still their most popular player. My guess is that Doug Melvin will try again for a multi-year deal in the off-season, but wind up going to arbitration on a one-year deal for 2009, and Prince will be around for at least one more season…Boras will probably push for at least $9 million for ‘09, while Melvin will likely offer $7 million; if Boras rolls the dice and does not accept an $8 million mid-point offer for his client, I think the Brewers will win the hearing, further alienating Prince. That would prompt a trade after the ‘09 season, when LaPorta could take over at first.
June 27th, 2008 at 10:51 am
Prince and Boras seem to be using Ryan Howard as their template for negotiations, since they have produced similarly in their first few seasons in the majors. Howard got $10 million in his first arby-eligible year, so I imagine that’s about where Boras would want to start with Prince. The Brewers would probably counter with something like $7 or $8 million. The Brewers can probably afford to give Prince big money like that for one year, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see them trade him next offseason in a Miguel Cabrera-type deal. While a lot of the casual Brewer fans that have come out of the woodwork would be upset with a Fielder trade, it’s just not worth it for the Brewers to sign him to a long-term deal. He’s already a bad defensive first baseman, and is only going to get worse with age (and weight). I wouldn’t rule out Prince Fielder someday being traded to the Indians, but I don’t think it would be in a C.C. Sabathia trade — the reason the Brewers are interested in Sabathia is to make a run at the playoffs this year, and they can’t do that without Fielder.
LaPorta is still about a year or a year and a half away from being Major League-ready, even though he’s putting up some ridiculous numbers in AA right now. Gamel’s also probably about two years away, but it could be longer due to defensive issues — he’s been worse than Ryan Braun ever was at third base, even though he’s putting up similar offensive numbers. The Brewers learned their lesson with Braun and won’t bring up Gamel until he proves he can be a decent fielder — and that may not happen unless he shifts to first base. The only way Gamel shifts to first base is if LaPorta is traded. LaPorta may be closer to being major-league ready, but many see Gamel is more valuable because he’s a rare left-handed power bat in a Brewers system filled with righties.
I think it could be possible for the Brewers to get Sabathia without giving up either, but that would mean the Indians would have to take a lesser deal, like the Twins had to with Johan Santana. Any number of young Brewers pitchers could be involved, including Jeremy Jeffress (first round pick a couple years ago with a 100+ MPH fastball). There’s also a few other hitting prospects that aren’t as highly regarded as Gamel and LaPorta — catcher Angel Salome, catcher Jonathan LuCroy shortstop Alcides Escobar, second baseman Hernan Iribarren, infielder Taylor Green, outfielder Cole Gillespie, and closer Luis Pena. I’m sure the Indians would like to get LaPorta or Gamel in a Sabathia deal, but I’m not sure they’ll be able to get that considering Sabathia’s impending free agency and the uncertainty of the Brewers making the playoffs.
As for Tony Gwynn, Jr., he wouldn’t be anything but a throw-in piece. He’s had trouble getting on base and has essentially been Juan Pierre with less power. I’d be willing to bet that if his last name wasn’t Gwynn, he wouldn’t have sniffed the majors. He provides decent speed and defense, but that’s about it.
June 27th, 2008 at 11:37 am
Jaymes L,
Your anti-Gwynn bias is quite obvious and I’ll bet you’ve repeated it in Brewers’ forums before. It borders on bigotry to downgrade him because of his name.
Saying that Gwynn Jr. is Juan Pierre with LESS power is about as insulting as it gets and without merit. As for Gwynn Jr. not being about to get on base, have you checked out his .408 OBP at Nashville this year? No, I didn’t think so. The fact of the matter is that he has never been given the chance to play for the Brewers for any extended period of time. You can’t make conclusions like you have when he’s never had the opportunity to prove himself in the big leagues.
June 27th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
If we’re getting Prince Fielder and some other pieces back from Milwaukee, I send C.C. to the Brewers going away. No doubt about that.
June 27th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Why in the world would the Brewers trade away Prince in the middle of a play off race? Yeah lets trade away one of the best offensive first basemen in the league who has multiple years left on his contract for a guy who has half a year left and will probably end up signing with then Yankees next year for big money.
Prince has a few more years on his contract left, if they trade him ever it will be in 2009, and thats only if they cant sign him to a deal which they have tried. Braun is the leader of the team and I am sure he is whispering in Prince’s ear to sign a deal, especially if the Brewers make the wild card this year. Brew Crew will be contenders for years, no reason to make a foolish trade for here and now. Especially since they really need to try and sign Ben Sheets too.
June 27th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
I’d love to see the Brewers trade Fielder, and soon while they can still get something for him, ala CC Sabathia. I get a funny feeling about him, and it’s all totally subjective, he has seemed very uninspired this entire season so far, and I think the Braun deal might have pushed him into the “just dont’ care anymore” category. Braun is now the perceived superstar of the team, and Fielder has been downgraded so to speak. I think if he gets with a team that he feels “appreciates him” (seriously rolling eyes) here, you will see him get inspired and take off! Until then, if we can get an ace pitcher out of it, I’d love to see the deal done and soon!
June 27th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
Joseph,
I think Gwynn is a great guy, but not a great baseball player. While you’re right that he hasn’t had much of a chance to prove himself in the big leagues, he hasn’t exactly impressed in the minors, either. His .400 OBP in AAA so far this year is definitely a step in the right direction, but it’s also aided by the fact that he’s hitting .336 right now — that’s 60 points higher than his career minor league average (just under 2000 ABs).
I don’t think calling him Pierre with less power is much of an overstatement — Gwynn has never had a SLG higher than .400 (came close in 2006) in the minors, but Pierre’s done it twice in the majors. Both are pretty bad power hitters, but Pierre boosts his SLG with a few doubles and triples — Gwynn’s pretty much been a singles hitter in the minors.
Can I be a little tough on Gwynn at times? Yeah, I’ll admit that. I just don’t think he has much value in a trade, and I don’t think he has the potential to be a starting centerfielder. He might be a nice piece to have on the bench someday, but I can’t see him being an everyday player. We probably won’t get to see if he can be an everyday player in Milwaukee, either — once Cameron is gone, LaPorta will be ready to step into right field, and Corey Hart will move to center.
June 28th, 2008 at 1:36 am
Don’t expect the Rays to give up a stockpile for C.C. While the team may be in contention this season, the entire blueprint of the franchise has been for 2009 and beyond for the new ownership group. That being said, a lot could be determined on how Price performs at the AA level. Should he continue to progress as he has at high-A, Price could be on the Rays roster by September. That would give the Rays four quality starters (with Kazmir, Shields and Garza) to build around for years to come. Should even one other of their prospects round into form, the Rays could have the top starting staff in the AL by next season and years to come, given their relative youth and the contracts already given to Kazmir and Shields. Why spend $100 million-plus on a starter who may not have as long of a shelf life?
June 28th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Why spend $100 million-plus on a starter who may not have as long of a shelf life?
They wouldn’t be.
They’d be “renting” the best starter in the league, making Kazmir and Shields the best 2 and 3 in the league, and I haven’t even mentioned Garza.
They’d be giving up three or four of the top prospects, and be getting two first rounders in next year’s draft when Sabathia leaves.
Bottom line? Tampa Bay, with Sabathia, have a chance to win NOW. Sabathia gives them that chance. Anyone that thinks Price is going to jump from A to the majors in a year, and give them what Sabathia can, is kidding themselves.
Price is going to be a stud for years to come for sure…as you said…
But I don’t know about you…I would sell ‘years to come’ in a second if it would give me a chance to win ONE world series.
June 28th, 2008 at 11:01 am
I think James is ahead of the curve on the C.C trade speculation here. Let me try and add a historical perspective and play why over paying makes a lot of sense for T.Bay.
Having lived through horrible (nearly twenty years) ownership with the O’neill family in the 70’s & ’80’s, the ownership in T.Bay is at a fork in the road with their franchise much like Cleveland was when the Jacobs’ Bros took on the Tribe.
They have a hot ballclub with a thin fan base. Jacobs and Hart had little promise on the field and a damaged brand. But both Florida teams face a unique challenge - similar to what Jerry Colangelo faced here in Arizona. Most people migrate to living here as well as in Florida, and have divided sports loyalties. Colangelo pulled it off IN TWO SPORTS by building a winner. Neither Florida franchises have - even though the Marlin won in ‘97.
The old saying ‘nothing succeeds like success’ dictates that if this ownership is serious - that if they believe they have a great product on the field and are committed to Tampa Bay long term - then Sabathia is mammon from heaven - literally a once in a lifetime oppertunity.
A new stadium is key to the long term health of any sports franchise; essential to building a quality brand. Fans expect it - or they won’t show up - AND PLAYERS expect it or they won’t show up except as a last resort.
When you look at Huizenga’s ‘97 Fire Sale - it was all about a stadium.
That same issue was a major contributing factor to Cleveland being a perennial loser for decades - a decrepit stadium built in the depression with the faint hope of stealing the ‘36 Olympics from Berlin! It got so bad that they had TO RENT THE PIT FROM THE BROWNS! For years they subsidized the football franchise to play in a dump!
T.Bay has been a ‘young’ franchise - every year stockpiling prospects because they have never been winners- and they have done an excellent job recognizing talent. When you look at their performance this year they are a scary ballclub - these guys are good.
What they have never had is a Marquee Player. Nothing would boost their brand like picking one up to help put them into the post season.
The question becomes - how much are they willing to gamble?
Steve is right that the Rays blueprint up to this point has been stockpiling - but this is also the franchise that has yearly had a payroll like the Bisons. If they aren’t at a point where they can seriously consider BUYING CC, then they aren’t a serious franchise and probably never will be.
As far as the speculation as to who is or isn’t off the table in the minors - if T.Bay ownership wants a coming out party to play with the big dogs in the AL East - why would anyone be off the table?
This current team is good enough to probably make the post season with what they have now. They are probably gonna get a new stadium even if they don’t go after C.C. - or anyone.
But with Sabathia in the rotation given what they already have they can challenge anyone - and - possibly pull off the otherwise inconcievable - establish themselves as ongoing CONTENDERS in the AL East.
Is that worth a 5 yr plus $130+ mill on one player for a team that has - what never spent $30 mill on payroll total?
Well it is a real possibility when you consider it’s all youth already on the field - exactly what Hart had with the ‘94 Tribe - players 2 years or more from a payday contract.
I think James is right on that the Rays have to be considered odds on fav’s in the CC stakes. As a tribe fan my only real concern is that Shapiro get a primo deal - and the Ray’s farm is the only real motherload on the map.
In closing I like what Shapiro has done to try and drive the market up - first leaking a ‘last ditch effort’ to sign CC now, and closing the 24 hr window to negotiate a long term deal.
I mean there is a real chance to do what Hart did with San Diego and Shapiro’s best coup to date - the Montreal deal that laid the foundation for the current club. In many ways the current Tampa situation mirrors the Montreal situation.
I’ll bet anyone a couple of Koshier Boys that our GM eventually will lift the 24 hr window and alow buying rather than just renting CC an option if he finds a buyer willing to seriously over pay.
Uniquely, Tampa Bay presents intriguing possiblities.
June 28th, 2008 at 11:05 am
Jaymes wrote:
Any number of young Brewers pitchers could be involved, including Jeremy Jeffress (first round pick a couple years ago with a 100+ MPH fastball). There’s also a few other hitting prospects that aren’t as highly regarded as Gamel and LaPorta — catcher Angel Salome, catcher Jonathan LuCroy shortstop Alcides Escobar, second baseman Hernan Iribarren, infielder Taylor Green, outfielder Cole Gillespie, and closer Luis Pena.
I could see them throwing in Jeffress; I think Salome is off-limits as they need someone coming up to replace Kendall in 2010; my guess is that they are reluctant to deal Escobar until they can determine if he’ll be an upgrade to Hardy in 2009 or so; Peña was put on th4e 40-man last year before the Rule V draft, signaling, perhaps, that he’s in the Brewers’ long-term plans, too.
Gwynn and Jeffress are probably not enough to get it done; throw in Peña, and the Indians would be foolish not to take the deal; substitute Dillard for Peña, and it might be good for both sides…I’d like the Crew to throw in Hall for Casey Blake to really make it interesting.
June 28th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Intersting comments throughout. A fan of the NL Central who is still trying to understand the comment that the Cardinals are overrated (who exactly is rating them as a serious threat), I agree with the Linebrink analogy and with the notion the Brewers need Fielder to be successful.
Fielder, yes a defensive liability, provides major protection in the Brewers order that Bill Hall or J.J. Hardy can not. He may get dealt this off-season but not this year as long as the Brewers stay in it. And I don’t think the Brewers will part with much to get someone who they won’t resign.
The Brewers staff of Sheets, Suppan, Para, Bush and McCure is not great but is solid. Suppan has been a #2 on a championship team before and Sheets is a legit #1. The Brew Crew would be better off, like the Cardinals, in improving the bullpen.
The Indians will need more than Gywnn and Dillard. I know some on this forum have disagreed, but these guys are role players who become overexposed if they get more than 200 or 300 at-bats.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:40 am
I really think CC should stay with the Indians. Teams with sane GMs aren’t going to give up multiple future top players for a half a year of a starting pitcher.
July 1st, 2008 at 10:27 am
[…] tip to battlekow at Brew Crew Ball) A Cleveland Indians blog, Tribe Report, takes a look at what Milwaukee could give Cleveland to get the deal done. They are focused on […]
July 1st, 2008 at 1:44 pm
3 years of Prince Fielder at half the price of free agency is not worth one half year of C.C. Sabathia. It’s not close. You are the only one i’ve seen to speculate that Fielder would be involved in a deal for Sabathia.
It took a full year of Josh Beckett to get Hanley Ramirez who carried at the time more risk than Prince Fielder would now.
Sabathia is an awesome pitcher, and despite collecting 240+ innings last year, and seeing his walk rate nearly double this year, he’d be a great catch for some team in the hunt. But you are grossly overvaluing what is the equivalent of about a dozen starts from Sabathia if you are putting it in the same ballpark as 3 years of cost controlled Prince Fielder.
The indians would have an outright huge victory if they got laporta or gamel for sabathia without also sending prospects (like lofgren or lewis) back. i think a more even trade would center around one of the other guys in huntsville, like angel salome, cole gillespie or michael brantley.
August 14th, 2008 at 9:58 am
[…] Tribe Report claims Brewers and Rays to be front runners for the late season services of C.C. Sabath…: It (very meekly) alludes to Prince being a potential chip in the deal. I’d hope/prefer the […]
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