Reportedly, the Brewers have traded Matt LaPorta, Zach Jackson, Rob Bryson, and Taylor Green to the Indians for C.C. Sabathia.
So, here’s the question: If you’re the Yankees, and Cleveland offered you Sabathia, now, in exchange for (Yankees prospects) Austin Jackson, Alan Horne, Adam Olbrychowski, and Brad Suttle, would you have made the deal? (Yes, I know that Olbrychowski is on the D.L. now – but, this is just a “What if?” thing.)
I believe that the Yankees package, as I have pitched it here, is equal to what the Brewers gave up – thereabouts, give or take.
Personally, I think the Yankees could afford to trade Alan Horne, Adam Olbrychowski and Brad Suttle in the right deal. Austin Jackson? I dunno…given the play of Melky, the contract status of Abreu, and the injury risks with Damon and Matsui…the Yankees might really need Jackson – and sooner rather than later. Then again, this assumes that Austin Jackson does not regress as he gets closer to the majors.
It’s a tough call for me. What do you say?
8 Responses to “C.C. Sabathia – What If?”
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July 7th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Not in a million years. The Brewers are only getting C.C. for half a season. That’s not enough to justify giving up Jackson (our CF of the future), Suttle (a promising bat) and Horne (a potential mainstay in the back of the rotation). If anything, this trade improves the chances of landing C.C. at the end of the year, when they will only lose draft picks.
July 7th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
if i knew Sabathia was willing to negotiate long term, id be willing to talk Austin Jackson.
otherwise, i prob wouldnt do it with Jackson in there, which im sure would kill the deal.
July 7th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
I never understood the purpose of trading a boatload of prospects for the privilege of then overpaying for a soon-to-be free agent.
If the Yanks want Sabathia as a free agent (and I hope to God they don’t), then they can rest assured that the Brewers won’t be using their insider status against us. Why trade those prospects away when it’s so obvious that Sabathia will be changing addresses in October?
July 7th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
but i agree with the poster above in the sense that at least this all but guarantees Sabathia will hit free agency.
file this under the “wont pay twice” for Cashman.
but you wonder how Sabathia feels about NY, and playing in the Bronx. if he has a positive view, he wont mind taking the boatload of cash the Steinbrenners are sure to throw at him after the season.
but if he has a negative view, perhaps it does (or did) some good to trade for him for the next couple months and get the opportunity to sell the Pinstripes experience to him before he hits free agency.
only time will tell.
July 7th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Ugh! No. No pitcher is worth $126+ million. Barry Zito told me so.
So why rent and then let him walk? The Brewers had a ton of picks this last draft and if, as expected, Sabathia walks, they’ll get two more picks. They are loaded with young talent, the Yankees do not have that luxury.
July 7th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
From the MLB Trade Rumors website:
Most articles seem to assume that the Brewers have no chance of signing Sabathia. I agree that it’s unlikely, but I wouldn’t rule it out. We’ve read repeatedly that Sabathia does not intend to chase every last dollar. What if he loves Milwaukee and he leads the team deep into the playoffs? The Brewers could let Ben Sheets and Eric Gagne leave and put that money toward a competitive five-year Sabathia offer. It’s not out of the question.
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Not sure that its been widely reported that Sabathia won’t “chase every last dollar” but if true, it makes the chances a little less that the Yankees will get him because they can throw that last dollar.
July 7th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
I would have made that deal in a heartbeat. The point is to win the World Series. Austin Jackson? Come on.
July 8th, 2008 at 10:57 am
I would have made that deal in a heartbeat. The point is to win the World Series.
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Doesn’t guarantee that the Brewers will win the Series. Heck, it doesn’t even guarantee that the Brewers make it out the first round.
But the Yanks’ problem is that for a team that was supposed to mash their way to the postseason, they haven’t done a whole lot of mashing.