Savvy Brewers turn prospects into ace Sabathia
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Make no mistake, big-money behemoths such as the Mets, Yankees and Red Sox still flex their financial muscle — in the amateur draft, in free agency and, yes, during trading season, too.
But the Brewers' pending acquisition of Sabathia is an aggressive demonstration of how low- to mid-revenue teams, when managed correctly, can secure expensive short-term solutions.
The trade also shows how baseball's maligned economic system not only affords such clubs greater financial flexibility than in the past, but also allows them to replenish themselves long term.
The Brewers outbid the Dodgers and Phillies, two high-revenue clubs, for Sabathia, who will add about $4 million to the Milwaukee payroll. The Phillies lacked the prospects to top the Brewers' offer. The Dodgers had the players, but refused to budge for a three-month rental.
To the victor go the spoils. The Brewers aren't going to mimic the Mets, who traded for Johan Santana and awarded him a landmark contract. No, Milwaukee is perfectly content to lose both Sabathia and right-hander Ben Sheets to free agency this offseason, then accept four premium draft picks as compensation.
The Sabathia trade continues a pattern that the Brewers began last year, when they traded three minor-league pitchers to the Padres for reliever Scott Linebrink, then gladly settled for two top draft picks when Linebrink left for the White Sox as a free agent.
The entire industry has seen what the Brewers can do through scouting and player development — Class AA outfielder Matt LaPorta, the centerpiece of the Sabathia deal, was the team's first-round pick in 2007.
As the Brewers' youngsters continue to evolve, club officials can continue picking and choosing among their players, using their surpluses to maximum advantage.
The Sabathia trade might not be the Brewers' last before July 31 -- they have shown interest in the Giants' Jack Taschner, a left-handed reliever, and Ray Durham, a switch-hitter whom they would use off the bench.
But don't be surprised if the Brewers accelerate their transition this winter by trading shortstop J.J. Hardy and possibly first baseman Prince Fielder for multiple high-end prospects.
The demand for shortstops, in particular, is rising. Hardy, second in OPS only to the Marlins' Hanley Ramirez among NL shortstops, could bring a quality young starting pitcher — think Giants right-hander Matt Cain — if he is packaged with the right youngsters.
The Brewers then could replace Hardy with Class AA shortstop Alcides Escobar, whom they signed at age 16 as an international free agent out of Venezuela. Escobar already is considered a superior defender to Hardy, though he might struggle offensively for a time.
Fielder, who hit 50 home runs last season, could be even more coveted in trades than Hardy — the Mets and Yankees, for example, might prefer to acquire him than sign a free agent such as Mark Teixeira for countless millions.
The trade of Fielder on top of Hardy obviously would leave the Brewers offense short. Then again, the Brewers need not rush: Fielder, represented by Scott Boras, is unlikely to sign long term, but only entering his first year of salary arbitration.
Two other Brewers prospects at Class AA, Mat Gamel and Chris Errecart, loom as potential replacements for Fielder. By keeping Fielder, the Brewers could buy each player more developmental time, then act at the moment they deemed appropriate.
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| Matt LaPorta landed the Brewers a Cy Young winner. (Jeff Gross / Getty Images) |
Nice little system, isn't it?
Sure is, and the Brewers aren't alone.
The Rays, another team that showed interest in Sabathia, are in a similar, but less urgent, position. Most of their core players are signed long term, enabling them to act strategically, not dramatically.
The Red Sox, too, are loaded with young talent, which combined with their vast resources should make them a powerhouse for years to come.
Of course, it's one thing to develop prospects, but it's another to deploy them properly. Case in point: The Dodgers, whose system is considered by some to be even stronger than the Brewers' system.
The Dodgers are much more inclined to sign free agents than trade young talent. They still could end up with Sabathia if they are the high bidder this off-season. But by trading for him, they could have gained an immediate edge in the mediocre NL West, then re-signed him without losing draft picks.
Perhaps the Dodgers will parlay their youngsters into other players. They desperately need a shortstop, and also might want to trade for a slugger or another starting pitcher. They could have pursued a blockbuster for Sabathia and Indians shortstop Jhonny Peralta. They should pursue one for A's right-hander Rich Harden and shortstop Bobby Crosby.
Ah, the A's — another club that uses young talent as an all-purpose weapon. Over the next month, the A's could trade Harden or right-hander Joe Blanton for prospects, or trade prospects for a veteran hitter such as Pirates left fielder Jason Bay.
Their most recent move, signing 16-year-old Dominican right-hander Michael Inoa for a $4.25 million bonus, evoked grumbling within in the industry — "Moneyball" detailed the A's previous disdain for giving high-school pitchers large bonuses. But the way the A's now see it, Inoa cost about as much a middle-inning reliever does in free agency — and his ultimate value to the team could be much greater.
But don't just look at the A's or Rays or even the Brewers. Look at the Twins, the Marlins and the Rangers, and what the Yankees are trying to accomplish by hoarding their young talent.
Prospects can bring you CC Sabathia.
Prospects are power.
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