Brewers obtain ace Sabathia from Indians
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Milwaukee Brewers obtained Cy Young Award winner C.C. Sabathia from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for a group of prospects, the National League club announced on Monday.
Adding the big left-hander to a starting rotation that includes right-hander Ben Sheets was a bold move by the Brewers, who were tied for second place 3.5 games behind the Central Division-leading Chicago Cubs.
Sabathia, after a poor start this season, has a 6-8 record and 3.83 earned run average. Last year he was 19-7 with a 3.21 ERA and was named the American League's outstanding pitcher.
Sabathia, who turns 28 later this month, is eligible to become a free agent at the end of the season.
"This is a huge statement," Brewers general manager Doug Melvin told reporters at a news conference. "I'd say we're going for it. There's a lot of baseball left but we feel good about the team."
The Brewers have not made it to the playoffs since 1982. They have a 49-39 record for a virtual tie with the St Louis Cardinals (50-40) behind the front-running Cubs (53-36).
The key player going to the Indians was slugging outfielder Matt LaPorta, 23, who has 20 home runs and 66 RBIs in 84 games for Double-A Huntsville.
Cleveland, rated a preseason contender but struggling through an injury-plagued campaign, also received Triple-A left-hander Zach Jackson, Class A right-hander Rob Bryson and a player to be named later.
The Indians are 37-51 and in last place in the AL Central, 14 games behind division-leading Chicago White Sox.
"This is part of the game, part of the business," Cleveland general manager Mark Shapiro told reporters.
Milwaukee plan to put Sabathia right to work. He is scheduled to start at home Tuesday against the Colorado Rockies.
Team owner Mark Attanasio said he was not worried about Sabathia signing elsewhere after the season ended. Milwaukee would receive two high draft picks as compensation if he signs with another team.
"We want Sabathia to come over here and have fun, pitch his best and we'll worry about that at the end of the year," Attanasio said.
(Writing by Larry Fine; editing by Miles Evans)
