According to several reports, the Brewers have acquired C.C. Sabathia from the Indians for a package of prospects centered around minor league slugger Matt LaPorta. Sabathia along with Ben Sheets gives Milwaukee the best one-two punch in the National League according to most of the experts, along with Brandon Webb and Dan Haren of the Diamondbacks. Peter Gammons reported during Sunday Night Baseball that the deal would be announced on Monday morning and many feel Sabathia will make his Brewers debut on Tuesday against the Rockies.
Will Carroll from Baseball Prospectus mentioned in his latest report he was told, “The Cubs will react quickly to any deals in their division.” So as the Brewers spend the off day welcoming the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner to Milwaukee, what is Jim Hendry’s next move? What are the Cubs needs? Many think Jim Hendry should add a frontline starter to compliment Carlos Zambrano and maybe a reliable, proven arm in the bullpen. With Alfonso Soriano due back from the DL, possibly this week, the Cubs’ offense is loaded with firepower….when all of the cylinders are clicking. But the ‘Big Three‘ can be extremely streaky.
Should the Cubs revisit the talks with Orioles over Brian Roberts? Or maybe they should target George Sherrill instead? What about A.J. Burnett? Greg Maddux? The injury risk that is Rich Harden? Or is there another pitcher the Cubs could slide in between Zambrano and fellow All-Star, Ryan Dempster? A name that has not been mentioned by the mainstream media and is pure speculation….what about Tim Hudson? XM Radio discussed the Braves could become sellers after the break.
The Cubs are 2-4 against the Brewers this season and play 19 of their final 73 games against the Brewers and Cardinals….the last 3 games of the season is in Miller Park. If Lou Piniella’s crew wants to repeat as Central Division Champions, they will have to beat the teams in their division.
From all indications the Cubs are looking for ways to improve their roster. But making a move just to make a move, is not the right answer. So while the Cubs enjoy a day off and Jim Hendry has his cell phone stuck to his ear, what moves, or non-moves, do the Faithful think the Cubs’ brass should try to make in order to fend off the Brewers and the Cardinals.
For reference only…. C.C. Sabathia’s career numbers against the Cubs’ current roster:
- Henry Blanco – 2-for-5
- Mark DeRosa – 1-for-3
- Jim Edmonds – 1-for-4 with 2 walks
- Reed Johnson – 8-for-21 with 2 doubles and a home run
- Aramis Ramirez – 3-for-7
- Alfonso Soriano – 8-for-25 with 3 home runs, 5 walks and 5 strikeouts
- 0-1 in 1 career start against the Cubs….9 runs on 8 hits in 2 1/3 innings. The Cubs beat Sabathia in Cleveland on June 21, 2006.