Brewers trade for Cy Young winner Sabathia

The Milwaukee Brewers are ready to make a serious push at a World Series title after acquiring Cleveland Indians ace pitcher C.C. Sabathia.

The trade, which was made official on Monday, sends Matt LaPorta, the Brewers' top prospect, pitchers Rob Bryson and Zach Jackson, and a player to be named for Sabathia.

 "I'd say we're going for it," Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said. "That's the way I look at it."

Sabathia, a left-hander, gives Milwaukee another power pitcher to pair with righty Ben Sheets, and rival the Arizona Diamondbacks' 1-2 punch of Brandon Webb and Dan Haren. He rejected a four-year contract extension worth $72 million US from Cleveland in spring training and is eligible to become a free agent after the season.

Sabathia, who turns 28 on July 21, won the 2007 Cy Young Award as the American League's top pitcher after posting a 19-7 record and 3.21 earned-run average.

He is 6-8 with a 3.83 ERA and 123 strikeouts in 122 1/3 innings pitched this season. Sabathia has won five of his last 12 starts and has fashioned a 2.39 ERA in that span.

The six-foot-seven, 290-pounder has also been a victim of poor run support as the Indians have scored two runs or less in 11 of his 18 starts.

Brewers just behind Cubs

Milwaukee entered Sunday's action third in the National League Central with a 48-39 record, 3½ games behind the division-leading Chicago Cubs.

"Let's face it: This is still a calculated risk," Brewers principal owner Mark Attanasio said. "The other teams in our division aren't going to sit back and look at this and say, 'Oh, now the Brewers have got CC Sabathia. Let's just roll over."'

The Brewers haven't been in the playoffs since 1982 and fell two games short of the NL Central title last year.

Cleveland doesn't want to see another star leave town without getting anything in return after Jim Thome, Manny Ramirez and Albert Belle all left for free agency. In 2002, the Indians traded popular starter Bartolo Colon to the then Montreal Expos for prospects Cliff Lee, Grady Sizemore and Brandon Phillps.

Lee is 11-2 for the Indians this season with a 2.43 ERA and centre-fielder Sizemore leads Cleveland with 22 homers, 50 runs batted in and 56 runs scored. Phillips is now the Cincinnati Reds' starting second baseman.

It's believed general manager Doug Melvin, a native of Chatham, Ont., has been looking for a starter since May when Yovani Gallardo went on the disabled list with a torn knee ligament that required surgery.

The Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays were also said to be in the bidding for Sabathia.

Indians falling from grace

The Indians, who were one win from the making it to the World Series last year, have quickly fallen out of contention, making a move likely. They entered play Sunday last in the American League Central with a 37-50 record.

"We all headed into this season with... well-founded expectations for a championship-contending season," Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said.

"Four core players on the DL — tough for almost any franchise to overcome — as well as disappointing performances from many components of our team, most noticeably in the bullpen, leave us at the juncture we're at. There wasn't much doubt or question in our mind that it was nearly impossible for us to become a contending club this year."

LaPorta, a right-handed slugger, was not in the lineup for double-A Huntsville on Sunday. He has a .288 average with 20 home runs, 23 doubles and 66 RBIs through 84 games this season.

"Matt LaPorta is going to be a good big league player, and I hope he is," Melvin said.

Considered below-average defensively, the former first baseman was converted to the outfield by the Brewers, who are set at that position with Ryan Braun, Corey Hart and Mike Cameron.

LaPorta, 23, was Milwaukee's first-round draft pick in 2007.