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Filed under: Majors
If reports are true, the C.C. Sabathia sweepstakes could be over before they started.
Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal claims 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. It also possible that promising shortstop prospect Alcides Escobar could be a part of the deal as well.
“I can not imagine anyone would top that,” the first source told Rosenthal.
The second added, “That deal should get it done.”
The Brewers would be paying quite a price for a pitcher like Sabathia, who will be a free agent following the season and is no sure bet to sign a contract extension in Milwaukee. That said, the Brew Crew has more pressure to win now considering pitcher Ben Sheets will also be a free agent and first baseman Prince Fielder may be dealt before the team faces the fact he may also not resign with the team when he becomes a free agent.
The other teams interested in Sabathia (Phillies, Cubs, Rays, Yankees, Red Sox) don’t have the minor league assets the Brewers can offer and while the Rays may come close, they simply aren’t willing to pay for three month rental.
It’s premature to assume this deal happens, but what should fantasy owners expect if C.C. heads to the National League? It’s typically been easier to pitch in the NL because they get to face another pitcher once every nine batters.
On top of that, a 2007 report in the New York Times citied that 57 starting pitchers switched leagues from 2000 through 2005 — 29 to the N.L. from the A.L. and 28 in the other direction. Their statistics moved with them: Combined E.R.A.s for the new National Leaguers decreased to 3.94 from 4.79, or 0.85 of a run, while their counterparts’ increased to 4.64 from 3.94, a move of 0.70.
There is plenty of evidence to suggest this trend and it’s enough reason to believe that the worst-case scenario for a potentially NL-bound Sabathia would be him pitching as well as he has over his last 14 starts. If C.C. tosses another “good not great” start like his last (8 IP, seven hits, two walks, four earned runs, five strikeouts), it may finally start to open up a window for fantasy owners to trade for him at a price that isn’t as high as his earlier dominance would seem to suggest.
Photo courtesy of the Cleveland Leader.
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