Good for the Brewers

Unless you’ve been without power and haven’t read a newspaper in the last 24 hours, you probably know that the Brewers traded their stud 1B prospect, Matt LaPorta to the Indians for CC Sabathia.  While, I fully admit that this makes them a threat for the NL Central (or the Wild Card at the very least), they better hope it works out for them this season, because they completely screwed themselves over for the future.

Now, believe it or not, I’m looking at this objectively as a baseball fan, and not as a Cub fan.  The Brewers are a small market team.  They have done well for themselves through their farm system, but they have never been one to shell out money for free agents, arbitration, or extensions.  Their current ace, Ben Sheets, has already stated that he is planning on testing the free agent waters.  Obviously, CC is going to do the same.  With the deal that Barry Zito got last season as a gauge, both Sheets and Sabathia are going to get big money offers.  The Brewers will be lucky if they keep one of them, but they surely won’t be keeping both.

In addition to those two guys, Prince Fielder has already voiced his displeasure about the team not working on a new contract for him.  When he goes to arbitration this winter, if Ryan Howard’s deal is any indication, he’s going to get a ton of money, as well.  Are the Brewers going to pay him, too?  LaPorta would have been the perfect low-cost alternative, as most baseball people rank him even higher than Ryan Braun.  And trading Prince could have netted them a huge return.

Like I said before, while this does make the Brewers a threat, it, in no way, guarantees them the Division crown.  CC can’t pitch a complete game every time out.  It’s gotta be handed over to the bullpen sometime.  And that Brewers ‘pen is suspect at best.  In addition, being in the AL his entire career, could we possibly see CC pull a Wang (heh heh, I said “pull a Wang”) and injure himself running the bases?

Finally, I’m certain the Cubs will do something to counter this move.  I fully expect to see AJ Burnett or Rich Harden in Cubbie pinstripes before the trade deadline, maybe sooner.  And while Harden is every bit as good as CC, he’s an injury risk that I would like to see Jim Hendry stay away from.  AJ Burnett is almost as good (especially moving back to the NL) and he won’t cost as much.  They Jays have already said they are looking for a shortstop, so there is a good chance a package of Ronny Cedeno and someone else will get it done.

Besides, all of this is a moot point if the Cubs continue to go out and play ball like they have all season.  Just keep winning and they won’t have to worry about the Brewers.