The Brewers acquiring CC Sabathia from Cleveland ranks as the CBSSports.com MLB Rumors blog's fourth-best trade-deadline deal since 2007.
Year: 2008
Trading partner: Cleveland Indians
Who the Brewers acquired: CC Sabathia
Who the Brewers gave up: First base prospect Matt LaPorta, outfielder Michael Brantley and pitchers Rob Bryson and Zach Jackson.
Why the deal worked for the Brewers: Sabathia completely dominated for the Brewers, going 11-2 in 17 starts, many of which occurred on short rest. Sabathia’s ERA was a sterling 1.65 after joining the Brewers. Due to Sabathia’s strong play, the Brewers ended a 25-year playoff drought. The Brewers lost in the LDS to the Phillies and Sabathia signed a seven-year, $161 million mega-deal with the Yankees in the offseason, but the Brewers had accomplished their goal of making it to the postseason.
Where are they now? Sabathia has continued to be one of the league's best pitchers with the Yankees. He’s 31 and should have a couple more seasons of elite performance ahead of him.
Now 27, LaPorta is still toiling in the Indians' minor league system after he failed to impress after several cups of coffee in the big leagues. His career line in the majors is a poor .237/.302/.395.
Jackson started nine games for the Indians in 2008, but failed to impress. After throwing 54.2 innings in his first season with the team, Jackson only threw 8.2 more innings for the Indians. He is currently in the Rangers’ minor league system.
Bryson is still in the Indians' minor league system, but he has yet to make his debut in the majors.
Brantley turned out to be the best of the bunch. Brantley is the Indians' starting center fielder. He’s having the best season of his career, hitting .301/.354/.436.
