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Melvin: Brewers' deep farm system, attendance numbers made Sabathia trade possible

The Capital Times  —  7/07/2008 2:04 pm

The way Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio looks at the situation, he had the easiest role to play in the trade that landed ace pitcher C.C. Sabathia from Cleveland.

"In my position, all I have to do is say, 'OK,'" Attanasio said at a press conference Monday morning at Miller Park. "It's a privilege to do so."

The Brewers made official the trade that brings the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner to Milwaukee as the team chases its first playoff berth since 1982.

After a three-game sweep of Pittsburgh at Miller Park over the weekend, the Brewers (49-39) boast the second-best record in the National League behind the Chicago Cubs, who carry a 3 1/2-game lead in the Central Division.

Milwaukee is percentage points ahead of St. Louis (50-40) in the wildcard standings. 

General manager Doug Melvin, who approached Attanasio weeks ago about his intentions to pursue Sabathia, said it was the biggest trade of his 13-year career making the final call in personnel decisions.

He credited the franchise's deep farm system and high attendance numbers for making it possible to part with last year's first-round draft choice, Matt LaPorta, as well as minor-league pitchers Zach Jackson, Rob Bryson and a player to be named later.

Some reports indicate that Taylor Green, the franchise's 2007 Minor League Player of the Year, is the final piece of the deal.

The Brewers have 10 players on the Double-A All-Star roster, and Milwaukee is 12th in the majors in attendance with an average of 35,301 fans -- which projects to a season total of 2.86 million -- despite playing in the smallest media market.

"It was the confidence in our (developmental) staff that allowed us to do this," Melvin said. "If we had only a couple prospects waiting in the wings, that would have been a tough deal to make."

Sabathia is slated to become a free agent at the end of the season and is expected to command a contract that may exceed what the Brewers want to commit in terms of length and money. He turned down a $72 million, four-year deal from the Indians before the season started.

So, there are potential drawbacks to the deal. A worst-case scenario: Sabathia is a three-month rental, the Brewers miss the playoffs for the 26th straight year and LaPorta and the other prospects go on to have superb major league careers.

Even that scenario has a silver lining: Should Sabathia leave via free agency, the Brewers would receive two first-round compensatory draft picks in 2009.

"Let's face it: This is still a calculated risk," said Attanasio, who has built his personal fortune through a career in money management. "Other teams in the division aren't going to look at it and say, 'The Brewers got C.C., let's roll over, and let them start printing playoff tickets.'"

Sabathia is expected to arrive in town later in the day and speak to reporters at 6 p.m. He is reportedly under consideration to start for the Brewers on Tuesday at 7 p.m. against Colorado at Miller Park.

"C.C. is one of the top pitchers in the game today," Melvin said. "His addition to the starting rotation will be a major key in helping the team reach its ultimate goal of going to the postseason and beyond."

Sabathia went 19-7 with a 3.21 ERA last season while leading the Indians to within a victory of the World Series and would give the Brewers another power pitcher to pair with Ben Sheets atop the rotation.

Sabathia had a slow start but is 6-8 with a 3.83 ERA. Cleveland scored two runs or fewer in 11 of his 18 starts.

The big lefty is 6-8 with a 3.83 ERA for the Indians, but has also been plagued with a lack of run support. In 11 of his 18 starts, Cleveland has scored two runs or less for him.

"I'm good, excited," Sabathia wrote in a text message posted on ESPN.com. "It's weird leaving these guys."

The trade was first reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Milwaukee's starting pitching has been thin since Yovani Gallardo went on the disabled list on May 2 with a torn knee ligament that required surgery. His rehab was supposed to take four months, which gives him an outside chance of returning before the end of the season.

Sheets (10-2, 2.77 ERA) is off to the best start of his career, but the All-Star righty is in the final year of a $38.5 million, four-year contract and hasn't wanted to talk about his upcoming free agency.

LaPorta was hitting .288 with 20 homers and 66 RBIs in 84 games for Huntsville and told the Huntsville Times in advance of the trade that "it's kind of flattering to have your name brought up for one of the best pitchers in the game."

Melvin spoke highly of LaPorta as a player at the press conference and praised his professional reaction to the trade.

"He wants us to win the World Series," Melvin said.

Visit www.captimes.com throughout the day for updates about the trade.

The Capital Times  —  7/07/2008 2:04 pm