Your New York Sports Blog: Yanks May Trade for Sabathia

It has been rumored that the Yankees are interested in acquiring Indian's starter C.C. Sabathia. He won the Cy Young award last year, but has pitched well below his potential this year: 4-8 with a 4.34 ERA. The Indian's hopes of reaching the playoffs this season are dwindling with every loss, which are coming frequently, and they will look to plan for next year. With Sabathia's contract expiring after this season, the Indians may try to get some value for him, as they may not be able to afford him next year.

Why would the Yankees trade for him though? They already have 3 veteran starters in Wang, Pettite, and Mussina, all who have pitched well so far, and then any combination of 4 young starters. The only way this trade makes sense, is if they decide to send Joba back to the bullpen, and Kennedy and Hughes back to the minors to train for next year. Otherwise, the Yankees will have 8 starters for only 5 spots.

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...added by Nick Scala

When you think about trading for someone of Sabathia's talent there is no way you would be able to keep either Ian Kennedy and/or Phil Hughes. With the direction of the Tribe having some good young talent with Fausto Carmona, Aaron Laffey, and Grady Sizemore they have a good future ahead of them, but they also have some vets like Travis Hafner, Victor Martinez, and Jake Westbrook they are at a cross-roads where they have to decide if they are going for the win now mentality or the build for the future, which will make it difficult for them to part with Sabathia even though they are aware they have a slim chance of signing him.

If you were to acquire Sabathia you are looking at something along the lines of Phil Hughes/Ian Kennedy, Jose Tabata, Humberto Sanchez, and possibly someone else. That cuts down those pitchers fighting for a spot in the rotation. If you then acquire him and make the playoffs you go in with a rotation of Wang-Sabathia-Pettitte-Mussina. In doing so you strengthen you bullpen by moving Joba back to the set-up getting the nasty 1-2 combo in the bullpen.

If I am the Yankees I feel much more comfortable with that rotation and bullpen then I do right now. Cashman has been trying to hold onto Hughes and Kennedy and for good reason, but we all know Hank will get what he wants and we all know he wants Sabathia and will force Cashman's hand to give one up, but with that offense it could result in the 27th World Series.

You then give C.C. the 100+ he wants so you do not have to worry about if Pettitte decides to retire.

All in all what I am trying to say is you can not go wrong with giving up young talent for a proven Cy Young award winner.

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