The Milwaukee Brewers officially announced on Monday morning that they traded their top minor league prospect and three other minor leaguers to the Cleveland Indians for 2007 American League Cy Young Award Winner CC Sabathia.
GM Doug Melvin ships Matt LaPorta, who was last years #1 draft pick, to the Tribe along with lefy Zach Jackson, righty Rob Bryson, and a player to be named later to Cleveland for the 6'7, 290 pound left-hander.
The 27-year-old was 106-71 with a 3.83 ERA over eight seasons in Cleveland. He became expendable because Cleveland would not be able to resign him when he hit the free agent market at the end of the year.
GM Doug Melvin said that they won't worry about resigning Sabathia until after the season and he realizes that they may only have him for a few months. With Ben Sheets also becoming a free agent at the end of the year, Melvin said that the organization owed it to the fans to "go for it" and try and win this year. It has been 26 years since Milwaukee made the post-season.
Owner Mark Attanasio says that Melvin came to him with the idea of the trade and he was 100% for it even though it will push the Brewers salary to about $90 million dollars and probably mean the team will lose money this season.
Sabathia was set to arrive in Milwaukee this afternoon and will be at Miller Park tonight. He will make his first start for the Brewers on Tuesday night against Colorado.
Listen/Download: GM Doug Melvin says they owe it to the fans to try and win. 23