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Fondy, if Weeks is traded, either Hall or Alcides Escobar would play second base.

Is there a limit to the number of compensation picks if we do get CC and lose him and Sheets? If Cordero and Linebrink brought the picks they did I can only imagine what CC and Sheets would be worth. Believe it or not, the compensation level would be the same. If the Brewers had them both, and lost them both, they'd wind up with four extra picks, just as they did for Cordero and Linebrink.

A 10-game roadie, against three solid teams, in three time zones, and the worst you'll be is 4-6. That's certainly nothing to complain about, one more win would move it from "acceptable", to "awesome." Just get this trip over with, then come home and pound on those bottom-dwellers!

Blending with existing Sabathia thread.

The other thing Gammons said was that he had spent the last two weekends in Chicago, and that "Both Chicago teams are very worried about the Brewers." He went on to praise the Huntsville club, repeated that one team is telling him that's the "Best prospect team our scout has ever seen", and then said that the Brewers had told him only one of those top five players would go. On Sabathia, he said it appears as though the Cubs don't have enough to get him, then he mentioned the Phillies, but did not elaborate. Personally, after watching Mota throw batting practice of late, I'd rather get a starter and an 8th inning guy than two starters. Gammons didn't specifically say Weeks or Hardy would go for Sabathia, although pitching was all he talked about for the Brewers - in fact, the Brewers were almost the only thing he talked about at all. If Weeks goes, I have no idea who would hit leadoff, it makes me think Hardy is perhaps the most likely to go - but that's not my personal choice.

Gammons was just on BBTN: The Brewers have told him they will not give up two of the following - LaPorta, Gamel, Escobar, Salome, Brantley BUT He says "several" teams are telling him the Brewers might make Hardy or Weeks available, and would then call Escobar up to replace whoever goes. He says that the Brewers will trade for "One, if not two" starting pitchers.

I agree that the Brewers shouldn't trade more than one of their top 5 guys in this deal. But it might be the price you would have to pay for Sabathia. Should the Brewers do that? In my opinion, no, absolutely not. There's no way the Brewers will pay Sabathia what he wants to stay here next year, so dealing two elite prospects to get him makes no sense to me at all. I don't see Gamel, the Brewers need the lefty bat, and the Indians at least have other options. I don't see Jeffress, because the Brewers are very thin on arms who may help the big team over the next 1-2 seasons. It could be Escobar, but I would imagine he's the last of the remaining three the Brewers would want to part with, so the additional players might be of lower value if he was the guy. I think La Porta or Salome would end up being the centerpiece of the deal, and I don't think Cleveland would hesitate to add either guy, I honestly think the sticking point would be who goes with this player. Of course, I could be completely off-base on how either team values these guys, but I think the Brewers would give them LaPorta or Salome and two other prospects, and I think there's enough remaining talent for Cleveland to find two guys they like enough to do it. If Sabathia was signed beyond this season, it'd be a different story, but he's not, and of course both teams know this. Maybe Cleveland wants two draft picks, maybe it's the last thing they want....who knows?

I'm guessing that a deal for Sabathia would be something like this LaPorta, Salome, and Villanueva. Nate, I honestly don't think the Brewers would part with both LaPorta and Salome for a player who will walk in November. I think one of their top five prospects would be in the deal, but no more than one.

When I wrote that, I'm assuming LaPorta would be available, essentially, I'm saying LaPorta, Escobar or Salome, with an outfielder, and a pitcher. Given the Brewers' organizational needs, I'd prefer that we keep Escobar, we've got what LaPorta does best, and we've got two other catching prospects coming behind Salome. SoCal Brew Crew - If the Brewers decide to push this issue, the Cubs simply cannot match the offer with prospects - their system just isn't deep enough. Boston and Tampa Bay certainly have the depth to make a deal for Sabathia, honestly, I think I'd list them as the top competitors here. I think St Louis could build a package that Cleveland would take, but their system doesn't have the overall depth to absorb a big talent loss, I think it would be a bigger gamble for them. If the Dodgers decide they're in the race, they could get involved here, otherwise I'd say Boston and Tampa, with St Louis as a maybe...depending of course on which teams even decide to pursue Sabathia. If St Louis pays big for a player this month, I'd think Matt Holliday is a more likely candidate than Sabathia. The Cubs will almost certainly add a pitcher, but I think Randy Wolf is a more likely target for them than CC is. I think the bidding for Brian Fuentes will have more teams involved than Sabathia will. Fuentes is a rock solid reliever with two plus' on his side - he's a lefty, and he's been an effective closer. I think the Rockies will do very well in a Fuentes deal, even if they don't get one huge prospect in the return, they should get multiple players who can help down the road.

Sabathia - Tribe will make one last attempt to sign him to a new deal, Sabathia rumored to want what Johan Santana got - 6 years, 137.5. A deal like that seems highly unlikely from the Indians, so a trade remains most likely. Matt Holliday - Rocky Mountain News says he's likely to be available following the All-Star break. Brian Fuentes - Absolutely gone from the Rockies - Cardinals, A's, and the entire Northeast listed as possibilities. Willy Taveras - A's are kicking the tires. Padres - Go ahead and call. Wolf, Maddux and Giles are all very available

Prior to the start of this season, the top ten prospects for the Indians included five pitchers, three corner infielders, and two outfielders - there is some power on the list, but nobody like LaPorta. The top rated catcher was #13, the top middle infielder was #18. I have not reviewed this season's stats for these players, (Aaron Laffey and Ben Francisco were on the list), but it appears as though Cleveland would have need for LaPorta, Escobar, or Salome. I think it'll take three players - one of those top prospects, and from there I would guess one outfielder - Cain, Ford, Gillespie or maybe Iribarren, and a pitcher, perhaps Braddock, Periard or Seidel. I don't see any way the Brewers get out of this without giving up at least one arm, and I doubt they'll be willing to let go of Jeffress. I wouldn't be surprised if the Brewers gave them three lists - pick one each from Groups A, B and C.

I agree with Stevo on this, there is no "have to" for the Indians. The Brewers have to come up with an offer that is perceived to be better than the two draft picks Cleveland will get if CC walks in November. The Brewers can certainly do that, but it's not like Cleveland will just take whoever Melvin feels like offering.

CC can hit, for sure. In fact, if the Brewers did get him, and if it came down to paying Sheets or Sabathia to stay here, this might come into play.

So how come nobody says anything in this thread when the Cubs kick somebody's butt. Stupid Giants.

The Brewers aren't a match for anyone who wants young arms, unless they're willing to take guys currently in West Virginia. Padilla has a bloated contract, a classic example of how over-priced free agent pitching is - this would not make me happy.

The only thing that makes me nervous is a team like the Rays or Phillies jumping in ahead of us. The Rays have prospects all day, do the Phillies?

16-11 They'll lose 2 in San Francisco, which will spawn a lovely round of "This season is over, Melvin stinks, Yost stinks, Prince stinks, the parking attendants stink, my mother never loved me, and my dog ran away." They'll close the month taking three of four from the Cubs, which will lead to a board filled with, "Cubs stink, Piniella stinks, I knew they were a fluke, extend Melvin's deal, keep Ned forever, Counsell is the glue of this team, I knew Dillon would become a power threat, I've just changed my son's name to Rickie." Oh, and they'll get Sabathia on July 25th.

Brawndo, I think it does matter in both cases, but Prince knowingly hired an agent who believes in the year-to-year philosophy. I'm sure the Brewers will make another offer to Prince, just as they will to Hart, but if Boras looks the other way again, then there's really no reason for the team to continue a multi-year deal with Prince - his agent's track record is quite clear.

I completely disagree with this, I think Corey is just trying to time things right, to get the best deal. This happened with Bill Hall too, he turned down a deal, had a great year, and then signed.

From Peter Gammons' Insider Blog... "Don't be surprised if Cleveland moves quickly on Sabathia." "The Brewers make the most sense if they figure out a way to take some of the Ben Sheets money and give it to Sabathia." "Two well-respected talent evaluators say Huntsville is the best prospect team in the minors. Another says Huntsville has five legitimate starting major leaguers, and one other called Huntsville "the best prospect team our scout's ever seen." The Cardinals and Cubs are both concerned about the Brewers - "They also know that the Brewers have an antsy owner and that Melvin is one of shrewdest general managers in the game."

"You can sell absolutely anything in this country. I'll bet you could sell fried chicken heads..." "What's that?" "It's a fried chicken head." "Gross! Get that out of here!" "They're only a dollar." "Whoa! Get two, get one for me!"

The more I read about Odorizzi, the more I wonder why he was still there for that pick. If the Brewers got a "steal" in those early picks, he looks like the guy.

Soriano is already going to be voted into someone else's spot, there's no reason to allow Fukudome to do it too. I just did 25 for Braun.

June is already ending.

It's Braun v Fukudome for the last All-Star spot. Vote early, vote often. http://blogs.jsonline.com/brewers/archive/2008/06/30/braun-closing-in-on-all-star-berth.aspx