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Mon Jul 07, 2008 12:29 am EDT

Breaking down the Indians-Brewers deal before anything's official

By Andy Behrens

Jeff Passan is confirming Tom Haudricourt's report about the Sabathia-LaPorta trade, so that's enough for me.

Here's what we know so far, via the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

A source familiar with the Brewers' trade for Cleveland lefty C.C. Sabathia just told me that the other players going to the Indians with Matt LaPorta are minor-league pitchers Zach Jackson and Rob Bryson and a fourth player, perhaps minor-league third baseman Taylor Green.

Sabathia is universally-owned already, and this trade didn't exactly damage his fantasy value. Moving from a losing team in a DH-league to a contender in the NL is, of course, a good thing. Progressive Field and Miller Park have been similarly pitcher-friendly environments so far this year.

It's worth noting that the NL Central is home to three of MLB's ten highest-scoring teams, though (Chicago, Pittsburgh, St. Louis), and Sabathia's new schedule in the head-to-head playoffs is no picnic. These are the Brewers final six series: vs. CIN, @ PHI, @ CHC, @CIN, vs. PIT, vs. CHC. That's ten games against the NL's two most productive lineups (Chicago and Philadelphia). If you're a Sabathia owner, particularly in a head-to-head format, this is a good time to get a price-check. There's going to be much trade-related enthusiasm, and he's been especially brilliant in his recent starts, posting a 1.80 ERA and 0.82 WHIP over the last month.

Or you could just keep him and have one of the best starters in baseball. Your call.

The 23-year-old Matt LaPorta will have mixed league relevance when he arrives in Cleveland. It's not perfectly clear when that arrival will happen, but you'd think immediately, since the tents just folded. He's hitting .288/.402/.576 at Double-A with 23 doubles and 20 home runs. In an OBP or OPS league, you want him. In a league that uses Ks for hitters, maybe you don't; he's struck out 63 times in 302 at bats. LaPorta seems like an eventual 1B/DH, but he's a corner outfielder at present.

Brad Evans discussed LaPorta in yesterday's Weekly Rundown, for those of you craving more.

Other than LaPorta, you won't find any other elite Brewers prospects in the deal. The 20-year-old Rob Bryson is (debatably) the most interesting. He has a 4.25 ERA and a dazzling K-rate at Single-A (73 Ks in 55.0 IP). Zach Jackson is a 25-year-old lefty with a 7.85 ERA at Triple-A. He has 34 Ks in 57.1 innings. Taylor Green, a 21-year-old third baseman, is hitting .295/.380/.444 at Single-A.

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120 Comments

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  1. Lee Majors
    1. Posted by Lee Majors Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:44 pm EDT

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    I should also mention that the biggest winner in this deal -- by far -- is "Twoffer," a team in my NL-only league. He gets Sabathia for $10, since he owned LaPorta.
  2. Blake H
    2. Posted by Blake H Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:52 pm EDT

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    I think Sabathias value goes up cuz Milwaukee means more wins than Cleveland and instead of facing DHs like David Ortiz, he faces pitchers. 11 W, 97 Ks in 100 innings, 2.95 ERA and 1.18 WHIP from here on out. Just my opinion.
  3. Tom Bos Jr.
    3. Posted by Tom Bos Jr. Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:48 pm EDT

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    The Indians made an awful pitch for this guy. They have been looking to shop him all season and this trash is what they picked up out of it? Mark Shapiro and John Mirabelli are morons. LaPorta is a good player, but they should have been able to pick up 2 LaPorta's for the price tags that Starting Pitchers are going for these days. This trade's ceiling is very low on Cleveland's side.
  4. Kenneth S
    4. Posted by Kenneth S Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:54 pm EDT

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    I have C.C. and I will gladly keep him...he should do just fine in Milwaukee...lets be honest if ryan dempster can dominate so can big C.C.
  5. neuz
    5. Posted by neuz Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:11 pm EDT

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    very very true!! look at what santana went for! at least the brewers get half a year out of sabathia...
  6. maltbyman2003
    6. Posted by maltbyman2003 Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:04 pm EDT

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    Keep C.C. away from those meat product races, and his K rate should climb instead of his weight. If he gets to 380lbs I'll trade him before he has a heart attack.
  7. BOOM Headshot
    7. Posted by BOOM Headshot Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:24 pm EDT

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    Good trade for both sides. Brewers get a better shot at winning this year and Cleveland gets La Porta. Also, if I'm not mistaken, CC will be a free agent at season's end, so who's to say Cleveland doesn't get clever and offer CC "Santana" like money in the offseason and bring him back to Cleveland?
  8. Raven
    8. Posted by Raven Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:29 pm EDT

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    Keep in mind that Sabathia's contract is up after this year, and he is not signing with Milwalkee like Santana did with the Mets. That's probably why they got less; Sabathia is only a rental for the Brewers. LaPorta is a top notch hitter, that is for sure, but the Brewers had nowhere to play him with Hart, Braun and Fielder entrenched in the only positions he can play. Great trade for the Brewers. The Indians probably got the best value available, so good for them too.
  9. Daniel
    9. Posted by Daniel Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:08 pm EDT

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    Milwaukee will regret this trade next year when CC is pitching for one of the NY teams and they gave up their #1 prospect to finish in 2nd place ....if their lucky. Probably will be right where they are right now at the end of the season.
    I'm not sure how Cleveland loses in this deal? CC was gone after the season. It didn't sound like any of the other teams that were interested in him were willing to give up anything more. At least they got something for him. Sizemore and Lee have worked out pretty well for Cleveland in similar past deals.
  10. Richard M
    10. Posted by Richard M Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:55 pm EDT

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    why didnt the Yanks get him? he woulda helped them out straight away this year, and give away Cano or Melky, they are both passengers so far. or Matsui hes old.
  11. gasol188
    11. Posted by gasol188 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:06 pm EDT

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    LaPorta got them CC Sabathia...I think it was good for both...Matt Gamel is the #1 prospect (and LaPorta a real close #2) but if the Brewers lose CC to Free Agency that is 2 1st round picks and they can draft good SP and RP in that...they also kept Escobar, Gillipse and Jefferies...so the future looks good for both teams...though I wish I could see LaPorta in the Brew Crew OF. Who knows maybe CC will sign with the Brew and perhaps Ben Sheets can resign and that would be a nice staff minus Jeff Suppan
  12. stephen
    12. Posted by stephen Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:12 pm EDT

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    Seems like a really bad trade for the Tribe on the surface
  13. joe j
    13. Posted by joe j Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:24 pm EDT

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    yeah the brews got the upper hand on this deal and it should give them a fightin chance for the WS. but not only that i think it is good CC is is comin to the NL now he can put up even better numbers then b4
  14. shmmrname
    14. Posted by shmmrname Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:20 pm EDT

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    did someone actually hint that hideki matsui would work in a cc sabathia trade? wow.
  15. The Fighting 54s
    15. Posted by The Fighting 54s Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:02 pm EDT

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    #10 why would the Brewers want Matsui? He may not even play again this season... we'll know Tuesday.
    As a Yanks fan myself, I'd have liked to see us get CC, but they weren't going to take Melky without a big package deal, and there's no way I'd trade Cano- Cano will be up near .300 by the end of the year. They needed some upper echelon prospects, and with Hughes injured and Kennedy ineffective, who was it going to be?
    I think they'll move Melky for some lower tier SP by the deadline, I like Gardener in center. CC May be ours next year, I hope so, but we just have to look elsewhere, and hopefully not give up too much to find the couple of changes we need to make the playoffs.
  16. Mr. S
    16. Posted by Mr. S Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:52 pm EDT

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    I feel that the Brewers got the best of this trade. Everyone knows what you get with Sabathia which is a great player. Look at his kk to bb ratio. Look at his innings pitched to hits ratio. Hes a great pitcher. We don't really know how good LaPorta will be in the big leagues, but pitching is more important than hitting anyways, especially in the playoffs. This gives the Brewers a great shot to pass the 1st place Cubs and move on to the post season as a strong contender.
  17. Joe H
    17. Posted by Joe H Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:04 pm EDT

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    #16
    As much as I like CC, he pitches horribly in playoff games
    hint hint the 07 ALCS
  18. Joe M
    18. Posted by Joe M Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:42 pm EDT

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    Jay Bruce is no Matt LaPorta
  19. LeeVanSpleef
    19. Posted by LeeVanSpleef Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:48 pm EDT

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    wooohooooo! Behrens is back to work!
    Cleveland should have shopped him before the season like the Twins. They could have gotten a little more for him, and now the Twinkies look pretty smart. Plus, More importantly, CC didn't do much for them this half season, and it set the tone for their entire team. Their season is over by halftime.
  20. John Parsons
    20. Posted by John Parsons Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:11 pm EDT

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    i think the indians should have kept him. he would not have been signed but the indians would have reieved drafts picks anyway from whoever signs him. i think it was a very bad deal.
  21. MAGNUM
    21. Posted by MAGNUM Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:03 pm EDT

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    FYI for you peeps who dont know baseball that well:
    When Cleveland traded Bartolo Colon (ie. a stud pitcher at the time) they got three prospects by the name of Grady Siezmore, Cliff Lee, and Brandon Phillips. Last time i checked those guys were all EFFIN AWESOME. This was a good trade for both sides.
  22. Ryan
    22. Posted by Ryan Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:12 pm EDT

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    Being a CC and Wang owner in an AL-only league, this is a true kick in the nutz if ever there was one.
  23. Sody
    23. Posted by Sody Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:31 pm EDT

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    The Brewers could've signed Cy Young & they still won't beat the Cubs.
    Sabathia? Yeah, he'll get rocked & wish he was back in Cleveland!
  24. John
    24. Posted by John Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:30 pm EDT

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    I think he will pitch just fine in the NL. I just want to see him rake at the plate. He will give Micah Owings a run for the best hitting pitcher in the bigs.
  25. Jay Mac
    25. Posted by Jay Mac Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:29 pm EDT

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    ZZZZZZzzzz - Cleveland took less just so the Yankees won't have CC this year. Foolish for them, because he will be looking slim in pinstripes next year in New York.

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