FOX SPORTS.com’s Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Brewers are offering Matt LaPorta in a proposed deal for Indians’ ace C.C. Sabathia.
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.
LaPorta, 23, and Escobar, 21, would be a steep price for Sabathia, who is headed for free agency at the end of the season. But the Brewers, facing a potentially dramatic off-season makeover, are in a more urgent position than other clubs, rival executives say.
Giving up two top prospects for free-agent-to-be Sabathia seems like a desperation move right now for the Brewers. Although if the club feels like they’re only one player away from a World Series, it’s hard not to make a big splash.
This seemingly would be a great deal for the Tribe if it went through. Sabathia is probably gone at the end of the year anyway, so why not land two top prospects in the process? Especially with the 2008 season already falling by the wayside for Cleveland.
