C.C. Sabathia Trade Update — Keep Expectations Down
“The best the Indians are going to get are some MLB-ready players in 2009.”
Dodgers Deny Trade-Indians in Last Ditch Effort to Resign
MITCHELL BLATT
Early this week, it was reported by us that Sabathia was in fact getting traded. We have an update from of league source who now says the Indians are going to have to tone down expectations.
They had been asking wildly for players like the Yankees’ Joba Chamberlain and the Dodgers’ Chad Billingsley, both of which offers were quickly denied. Now the best they can hope for are prospects who might be ready next season.
“No way will they pull a Colon deal,” the source said. “Teams value prospects a lot more than six years ago.”
In 2002, the Indians were able to trade Bartolo Colon for Cliff Lee, Grady Sizemore, and Brandon Phillips, all of whom are now among the elites at their positions.
The top two teams in contention for Sabathia are the Brewers and Cubs, though the Cubs weak farm system will likely hamper them, said the source. The Dodgers, widely discounted, may be a darkhorse if they start winning more in July. Right now, they are 3.5 games behind the Diamondbacks for first in the NL West, though they have a losing record of 36-42.
Other teams also interested are the Rays, Yankees, and Red Sox, though they are probably all long shots. If the Sox would be willing to part with pitcher Justin Materson, they might be able to get Sabathia.
Sabathia still has a month in Cleveland, most likely, because most trades do not happen until right at the deadline of July 31, and the Indians are said to be going for last ditch efforts to resign him, but if he’s not resigned in one to two weeks, you can expect him to be gone.
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For the Indians they’re in a very difficult position. Yes, they are a smaller market team that tries to be cash conscious, BUT they usually sign their big guys before they demand huge contracts. Last off sesaon they tried to ink C.C. to a big extension but he balked at the deal, and now, here we are, Cleveland in last place, tied with the GASP Royals. Cleveland probably feels this is just a terribel year and they can bounce back with so more offense, so in that sense trying to keep the 2007 CY Young Winner makes sense. What makes things tough is if they don’t deal Sabathia, and he walks away at the end of the year. It’s a dilemna, one that they tried to avoid. My prediction: the Indians deal him for a slew of prospects, and get one team’s top prospect. But that’s just my thought. Anybody want to chime in?
Btw: of the four finalists in the LCS last year, only the Red Sox are comfortably above .500. Arizona is a game up and the Rockies, well, let’s just leave them out of this altogether.
Wow, I really should have spell checked that before I submitted that comment. O well, hopefully people understand my points.