Fansided

Each MLB team’s best trade ever

By Joshua Sadlock

SEATTLE, WA - JUNE 19: Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers takes a swing during an at-bat in a game against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on June 19, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners won the game 6-2. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - JUNE 19: Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers takes a swing during an at-bat in a game against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on June 19, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners won the game 6-2. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA – OCTOBER 02: CC Sabathia #52 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies during Game 2 of the NLDS Playoffs at Citizens Bank Ballpark on October 2, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA – OCTOBER 02: CC Sabathia #52 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies during Game 2 of the NLDS Playoffs at Citizens Bank Ballpark on October 2, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) /

Milwaukee Brewers: CC Sabathia from the Indians, 2008

  • Brewers get: CC Sabathia
  • Indians get: Michael Brantley, Matt LaPorta, Rob Bryson, Zach Jackson

A mid-market team like the Brewers has to hit a grand slam when they rent a pending free agent like Sabathia was in 2008 when they acquired him from the Indians. With no realistic shot at re-signing him at the end of the year, the Brewers were all in with Sabathia for two months and hopefully the postseason. The Cy Young winner responded with one of the best stretches of baseball ever by a rental pickup.

Sabathia’s Brewers career would be limited to 17 starts, but he made them all count. The big left-hander went 11-2 down the stretch with a 1.65 ERA, seven complete games and three shutouts. Sabathia was often pitching on three days rest in September. He ended the year as the NL leader in complete games and shutouts despite only spending two months with Milwaukee. Sabathia ran out of gas in the playoffs and the Brewers lost to the Phillies, who eventually won the World Series, in the NLDS.

In the end, the best player to go back to the Indians in the trade was Michael Brantley, who was tacked on as the PTBNL. Brantley has far outplayed his mid-round draft status and early reputation as a light hitter. It took until his sixth season in the big leagues for Brantley’s power to emerge, but he is now a two-time All-Star with two 45-double seasons. Minus the 2016 season where he was hampered by injuries, Brantley has been a .300 hitter with a well-rounded game.

Luckily for the Indians, Brantley developed into a star because the centerpiece of the deal, Matt LaPorta. LaPorta was a .238/.301/.393 hitter in parts of four MLB seasons.

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