Sources: Indians agree to deal Sabathia to Brewers for minor leaguers
ESPN.com news services
Updated: July 6, 2008, 8:04 PM ET
It looks like the next time C.C. Sabathia takes the mound he'll be donning a Milwaukee Brewers jersey.
The Brewers and the Cleveland Indians agreed to a deal for the reigning AL Cy Young on Sunday, according to sources. The newspaper reports the deal is contingent on paperwork being finished and the exchange of medical records.
The trade was first reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Cleveland would get Double-A outfielder Matt LaPorta, who is hitting .288 with 20 homers and 66 RBIs in 84 games for Huntsville, and others. The other players do not include top prospects Alcides Escobar or Mat Gamel, according to the Journal Sentinel.
The Brewers wanted Sabathia, who rejected a $72 million, four-year extension from the Indians during spring training, on their pitching staff in time to get him two starts before the All-Star break, according to multiple media reports. Sabathia, who is 6-8 with a 3.83 ERA this season, could debut in Milwaukee against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday.
Brewers general manager Doug Melvin told the Journal Sentinel on Saturday that a proposal was on table and he awaiting word from Indians GM Mark Shapiro.
"Mark said he'd be in touch with me," said Melvin. "I'm sure they've got to think through everything."
Laporta was scratched from Huntsville's lineup Sunday, another indication the deal was close.
Milwaukee, which hasn't made the playoffs since 1982, is second in National League standings behind the Chicago Cubs.
The Brewers have been considered the front-runner in the Sabathia sweepstakes. The Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays were among other teams vying for his services.
ESPN.com news services
Updated: July 6, 2008, 8:04 PM ET
It looks like the next time C.C. Sabathia takes the mound he'll be donning a Milwaukee Brewers jersey.
The Brewers and the Cleveland Indians agreed to a deal for the reigning AL Cy Young on Sunday, according to sources. The newspaper reports the deal is contingent on paperwork being finished and the exchange of medical records.
The trade was first reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Cleveland would get Double-A outfielder Matt LaPorta, who is hitting .288 with 20 homers and 66 RBIs in 84 games for Huntsville, and others. The other players do not include top prospects Alcides Escobar or Mat Gamel, according to the Journal Sentinel.
The Brewers wanted Sabathia, who rejected a $72 million, four-year extension from the Indians during spring training, on their pitching staff in time to get him two starts before the All-Star break, according to multiple media reports. Sabathia, who is 6-8 with a 3.83 ERA this season, could debut in Milwaukee against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday.
Brewers general manager Doug Melvin told the Journal Sentinel on Saturday that a proposal was on table and he awaiting word from Indians GM Mark Shapiro.
"Mark said he'd be in touch with me," said Melvin. "I'm sure they've got to think through everything."
Laporta was scratched from Huntsville's lineup Sunday, another indication the deal was close.
Milwaukee, which hasn't made the playoffs since 1982, is second in National League standings behind the Chicago Cubs.
The Brewers have been considered the front-runner in the Sabathia sweepstakes. The Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays were among other teams vying for his services.
