Will We See See Sabathia in Brewer Blue?

By: Big Rygg

First and foremost, Happy Independence Day to all of our domestic readers and those U.S. citizens that read us from the other side of our borders!

Now let’s get down to business…

There has been a TON of acceleration regarding C.C. Sabathia’s possible trade out of Cleveland. The destination that’s being penciled onto his plane ticket has been reading: MKE (the airport code for Milwaukee’s General Mitchell International Airport if you didn’t know).

Heading back the other direction? Well therein lies some of the discrepancy in stories.

FoxSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal is reporting that both (yes, both) OF Matt LaPorta and SS Alcides Escobar were offered to the Indians for Sabathia. Beat-writer for the local Milwaukee paper the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Tom Haudricourt, reports that he has it on “good authority” that the Brewers would never offer both of those players in the same deal for Sabathia. He has found out that the Indians had scouts watching the Brewers’ Single A team (the Brevard County Manatees) the other day where 2007 Brewers Minor League Player of the Year Taylor Green plays ball and believes that Green might be a centerpiece in a deal.

There is also some talk about J.J. Hardy possibly being involved in a deal for Sabathia and then that Escobar would be used to replace Hardy on the big-league roster. (I’m officially on the record as not in favor of this scenario if we could get Sabathia with just prospects instead.)

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Possible Sabathia trade

Express Milwaukee.com


There was a lot of chatter that came up today about the Brewers possible trade for CC Sabathia. Reports say LaPorta and Escobar. Is it weird that I'm more concerned about losing Escobar than LaPorta? I mean, I know Matt's hitting the cover off the ball, but Escobar is our SS of the future - it's unlikely we'll keep Hardy for too long because we should get something good for him, he'll be expensive and Escobar is as good, if not better. Removing Escobar really makes me wonder about the future at SS.

FoxSports broke the news this morning that the Brewers have Matt LaPorta on the block along with Alcides Escobar. Article here. Crucial part:

The Milwaukee Brewers are serious about trading for Indians left-hander C.C. Sabathia — more serious, perhaps, than any other club.

The Brewers' offer for Sabathia includes Class AA left fielder Matt LaPorta, according to sources with two other clubs that are interested in acquiring the pitcher.
Class AA shortstop Alcides Escobar also may be in the Brewers' proposed deal, one of the sources says.

And the Indians scouted the Brewers' Class A Brevard County (Fla.) affiliate on Wednesday night, looking at third baseman Taylor Green, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

The Brewers likely would prefer to substitute a lesser player for Escobar, or perhaps would insist upon additional talent if the Indians demanded his inclusion. But if the Brewers indeed were willing to give up both LaPorta and Escobar, the Sabathia sweepstakes might be over before they started.

"I can not imagine anyone would top that," the first source said.

The second added, "That deal should get it done."

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Milwaukee Bleacher Report

Trade Speculator - CC Sabathia -

Part I By Brandon Heikoop(Senior Analyst) on July 5, 2008 199 reads

Next For Charles Carstens and the Indians, hopefully this Trade Speculator is part one of one. As reported by Tim Hardicourt and Anthony Witrado, the Milwaukee Brewers and Cleveland Indians are in negotiations to work out a deal that revolve around CC Sabathia. As far as names are concerned, the only reports are that the Indians have checked out Milwaukee's high A affiliate, the Brevard County Manatees. Canadian Taylor Green is a name that came up, although I can't see the Indians making a trade for prospects that are that far from the majors. Hardicourt and Witrado assert that the Brewers probably wouldn't part with Green and the other top third base prospect, Matt Gamel. However, Shapiro has been quite sly with his trade negotiations, so expect him to get a lot here.

Despite the report from Hardicourt and Witrado, Ken Rosenthal is suggesting that the Brewers have offered their top prospect, Matt LaPorta. It additionally sounds as if they are willing to send Alcides Escobar in a package for Sabathia. Rosenthal, however, suggests that an additional piece would have to come from Cleveland in this proposed package.

If the Indians could land Escobar, the middle infield that this team would sport at the end of 2009 and beyond would be, in my opinion, the best of all time. Maybe not with the sticks, but I'm certain it would be impossible to hit a ground ball up the middle on those two slick fielders. Additionally, we would see some of the most remarkable double plays ever!

Stepping away from my Cleveland colored glasses for a moment, let's take a look at what the experts have to say about LaPorta and Escobar.

Kevin Goldstein, the Baseball Prospectus writer whom I source several times a week, rated LaPorta as the #1 prospect in the Brewers organization and the 4th player under 25. Keep in mind that LaPorta is in the company of All Stars Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun, as well as pitcher Yovani Gallardo. In other words, if LaPorta was in any other organization, he would arguably be their top under 25 talent.

I will ignore what negative Goldstein has to say about LaPorta as it focuses on his fielding and fielding alone. The reason being, when the bat is as good as LaPorta's is projected to be, you are excused for having cement hands. Here is what Goldstein has to say,

LaPorta has true impact potential offensively, with some scouts believing that he had the best power and the best pitch recognition in last June's draft. He has the patience to wait for a pitch to hit, the bat speed to let balls carry deep into the zone, the strength to power them out to all fields, and the hand/eye coordination to hit for average as well. Moved to the outfield for the first time in his career after signing, the Brewers praised his work ethic in learning the new position, and his ability to leave his defensive issues behind him when he stepped to the plate.


'True impact potential offensively'. Given as a 23 year old, LaPorta has 19 moonshots thus far for his double A club, it appears as though he has been accurately labeled.

Sickels agrees that LaPorta's bat is legit, although like Goldstein, he questions LaPorta's glove dropping the kid to #19 on his prospect hitters list. A B+ rating is solid, if not spectacular for a hitter with such little experience within professional baseball. This only further impresses me on the success that LaPorta has had to date.

Despite recent word that the Brewers will be unwilling to part with Escobar if they are already sending LaPorta, let's quickly check out the player whom the Indians might have involved in this package.

Escobar is not going to win a triple crown any time soon. In fact, he probably never will. The lack of power, which led a scout to tell Goldstein, that Escobar is "about as strong as my sister". Furthermore, according to Goldstein, Escobar's "highly-aggressive approach limits his on-base ability. He also has a sizable platoon split, with much more effectiveness against southpaws."

The Indians would be receiving a high average, outstanding defensive short stop. This could be an addition by subtraction as it would allow them to freely shop Casey Blake and eventually move Jhonny Peralta to the hot corner.

Looking through the Brewers organization, four names stuck out to me as players I would want if I were running the Indians.

First, Zachary Braddock, a 20 year old left handed starter pitching in high A. Currently Braddock is having a mediocre season, but much of that can be blamed on poor luck and lack of control. Sickels rated Braddock as a C+ prospect entering this season, and I would imagine that rating to remain the same as of today. The strikeouts have taken a hit, but he is still young enough to turn things around in that regard.

Second, Corey Frerichs. This 22 year old reliever is dominating low A ball with an 11.72 K/9 (strikeouts per nine innings). Like Braddock his walk rate is fairly high, and at Frerichs age, he may never turn into Rafael Betancourt, but from the numbers, the kid looks like a nice piece to acquire. Frerichs isn't showing up on anyones prospect lists, to his price may be low enough to get as a throw in.

Third, catcher Jonathan Lucroy. The 22 year old catcher, drafted in the 3rd round and touted as the second best hitting catcher in the 2007 draft behind Matt Weiters, an Orioles prospect. Thus far, Lucroy has not disappointed and liek LaPorta, is a defensive renaissance from being an even higher rated prospect. Sickels rated Lucroy as a B- entering this season.

Lastly, 20 year old right handed starter, Jeremy Jeffress. I gather that Jeffress would be incredibly difficult to pry from the Brewers as he is having success in high A at a relatively young age. Sickels rated Jefress as a B prospect assuming that he is no longer a threat to be suspended for violating the leagues substance abuse program. Goldstein had the following to say while rating the first rounder a 4 star prospect,

On a pure velocity level, Jeffress ranks with any arm in the minors, as he parked his fastball consistently at 94-97 mph, and touched 100 mph on several occasions last year. He flashes a good curveball at times, and has begun to show some feel for a changeup as well, despite being very new to the pitch. He's an outstanding athlete, and his arm action is clean.


Of the four, Jeffress is presumably the most difficult to obtain. Shapiro, however, may be able to offer to rid the Brewers of the headaches Jeffers causes. Obviously Lucroy's defensive issues would have to be cleared, as the team does not need another Ryan Garko.

Given the current LaPorta for Sabathia offer, the Indians should not hesitate to make this move. Mark Shapiro should act quickly. Given the day to day uncertainty of MLB players, anything could happen in an instant which could simultaneously make Sabathia undesirable, and the Brewers from wanting to send their most coveted prospect. Given the fact that I am an Indians fan, this is a trade I will be monitoring closely.

My apologies fellas! I was going from memory. Next time I'll include some sort of reference materials or links.

Maybe someone who follows the minors closely like CIV could tell us if the Brewers had any prospects back when we traded them Sabathia who have become MLB players, and how they are doing.

No big deal fellas. Really! I was just trying to answer JR's question. By the way, in that last article, Heikoop did throw out a couple of other names that might have been considered.

Didn't want facts to cloud my judgement

Pretty solid reviews in those old reports on LaPorta. If Matt had merely been a B+ as Sickels suggested it would have been a good return. But of course he's been more like a D-.

Just as we have good ballplayers and bad ballplayers, we have good scouts and bad scouts. Seems like the Tribe listens to the bad ones. The guys that recommended Marte and LaPorta should be sweeping floors in the clubhouse.

Seems like the Tribe listens to the bad ones.

How do you explain Santana, Choo, and A Cabrera ?

Having to explain ALL of them takes all the fun out of it.

Look, it was obvious that trading CC was the right thing to do, even if it meant not getting much in return (which was likely since all the OTHER GM's knew it was the right thing to do). I think this was less a "failed to get good stuff in return" and more of a "failed to win the lottery by accident."

MLB.com Top Prospects are a little different than Tony or BA or most of the other lists I've seen. They have a thing for catchers: Alex Monsalve is No. 9 and Alex Lavisky No. 12. They include last year's Latin signee Dorsyss Paulino at No. 13, and Gulf Coast League standouts Jorge Martinez (power hitting SS) at No. 16 and my favorite Robel Garcia, 3B, at No. 20.

Their list does not include Jesus Aguillar or a Tony-favorite Bryson Myles and I think they're right on him. They drop Luigi Rodriguez to No. 15, most lists put him in the Top 5-8 range. But boost his namesake RonnieRod to No. 6.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/prospects/watch/y2012/#list=cle

Thanks, JOE, RUSTY and CIV.

As a post script to the above discussion..........

According to ESPN, the Royals and Brewers agreed to a trade early on Sunday that will send the Royals' ace (Zack Greinke) to Miller Park for outfielder Lorenzo Cain, shortstop Alcides Escobar and pitchers Jake Odorizzi and Jeremy Jeffress.

(These players were mentioned above as possible candidates for Shapiro and his scouting department to consider.)

The Brewers are also expected to receive another major-league player in the deal -- potentially Yuniesky Betancourt.

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SURPRISE, Ariz. --

2012 Spring Training

Ned Yost remembered seeing a young shortstop named Alcides Escobar when he was with the Milwaukee Brewers. The vision of him gliding across the infield never left Yost's mind, even when he took over the Kansas City Royals.

"I've loved this kid from the moment I laid eyes on him," Yost said.

He loved him more than ever on Thursday.

Escobar signed a four-year deal with Kansas City worth $10.5 million, with two club options that could drive the value to $21.75 million -- still well below market value for one of baseball's best shortstops, which is precisely what Yost believes Escobar can be.

"He's a Gold Glove-caliber shortstop," Yost said. "I personally think he's the best shortstop in the American League, if not in all of baseball.

"We've talked on many occasions how I think he's going to continue to grow offensively. He's just scratching the surface of what he's going to be able to accomplish offensively, and I love his energy. I love his personality and I love the way he loves to play the game. It's infectious."

Escobar will make $1 million this season and $3 million each of the next three seasons. The options are for $5.25 million in 2016 and $6.5 million in 2017 with $500,000 buyouts each year.

"I'm so happy for this situation, and I want to be here for a long time," Escobar said.

The 25-year-old Escobar was acquired from the Brewers in December 2010 in the deal that sent pitcher Zack Greinke to Milwaukee. He was immediately slotted into the Royals' starting lineup last season, hitting .254 with four homers and 46 RBIs while stealing 26 bases.

He joined Freddie Patek, U.L. Washington and Angel Berroa as the only shortstops in franchise history to steal at least 20 bases in a season.

"When you look at our defense in 2010, and we were I believe last in the American League, and of course we were able to execute that trade with Milwaukee and Alcides was the main player in that deal for us," Royals general manager Dayton Moore said. "You can't win championships without a shortstop, and he gives you the ability to stabilize your infield."

What was the point of that post ?

Just checking out the KC game and saw that Lorenzo Cain mashed his fifth homer of the spring, a 3-run shot. Unlike Duncan, Cain is raking. Kansas City picked up Cain from Milwaukee in that deal for Greinke.
Cain considered for Royals' No. 2 slot

By Dick Kaegel / MLB.com | 03/27/12 9:15 PM ET

PHOENIX --

Manager Ned Yost sounds as if he's leaning toward center fielder Lorenzo Cain as his No. 2 hitter in the Royals' batting order.

"I'm not ready to set it in stone, but I like the way Cain sets up in the two-hole right now," Yost said. "I'm still kind of mulling it. If you've got [Eric] Hosmer, [Jeff] Francoeur, [Billy] Butler behind you, Cain might see more fastballs. And he can freakin' lean on a fastball. So we'll see."

Cain has been one of the Majors' leading hitters this spring and is batting .431. He would provide a right-handed bat between Alex Gordon and Hosmer, both lefties.

That KC got a great deal for Greinke !?!?!?

Just another way for you to whine......

As usual. You either purposely leave out information or you just don't know the facts.

How many years did Greinke still have on his contract when he was traded ?