A's linked to Bay Area native Sabathia

A potential trade of Sabathia to Oakland would further the lore of Billy Beane's contrarian style. The GM who traded the club's big names for prospects in the winter, winds up a contender in the summer and swaps for the biggest name of the fall.

If Street and Blanton are shipped to the tribe, Cleveland would fill two immediate needs: pitching under 30 and under contract. Oakland would likely have to include a position prospect such as Javier Herrera, given the Indian's precarious OF situation beyond Grady Sizemore.

A couple of hurdles for Oakland come to mind:

1) Will NY be willing to let Sabathia slip into the hands of another Wild Card contender? The Yanks are Big Hank’s team now. Brian Cashman was able to persuade the pinstripe owner not to sell the farm for Johan Santana this off season.

Darling pitching prospects Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy have failed to live up to Big Apple expectations. Hank might push the panic button, and offer more to Cleveland for C.C., than NY was prepared to give up for Johan.

2) Do the Angels need more pitching? The Angels are a club that seems to stand pat at the deadline. While run production has been the problem, not pitching, the return of Chone Figgins to the top of the lineup should increase Anaheim’s run differential the rest of the way.

The past several can't miss Angel prospects have only bloomed into consistent major leaguers. (Kendrick, Quinlan, Kotchman) Perhaps, Art Modell will be willing to move the likes of 3B/SS Brandon Wood and SP Nich Adenhart. The Angels certainly have the money to ink Sabathia to a long term deal. With Lackey, Garland, Santana, Weaver and Saunders pitching so well, the Angeles would have a difficult decision to make if Oakland is a true buyer.

First, If Sabathia is dealt which i'm not sure this is set in stone yet, because the Indians could definitely bring this season back, once Martinez, Hafner, and Carmona come back. The tribe is 6 1/2 back with these three guys out. In this situation it would be stupid, to sell the team's anchor in C.C. who is just turning back to the old C.C. we know and love. In his last 3 starts hes 2-0 with a 1.5 ERA with 25 SO's and 2 BB's. So unless the tribe plummets from here on out, I don't see this trade happening. And if it does it won't be with the A's who are offering 2 bums showing no sign of getting better. In Blanton's last 4 starts he is 0-4 giving up 20 runs and walking more than he has struck out. As for Houston, the tribe doesn't need another relief pitcher with an ERA of 5. I also don't agree with your OF prospect, or your comment about the Indians being a mess in the outfield. Ben Francisco is on the tear and has been the Indians prospect in LF for quite a while. Franklin Guitierrez needs some time to work out the kinks but for now the Indians have 5 OF who play regularly and another one is not coming over. As for the Angels comment, the Angels are up 5 games and have Saunders 11-3, Santana 9-3, Lackey 5-1 with a 1.65 ERA, Garland 6-4, and their young prospect who has the ability to become an elite pitcher and 7-7. If there is one thing the Angels don't need right now its starting pitching. If it's not broken don't fix it. The only team I see getting C.C. is the cubs, there finally at the top and they will sell the farm to keep it there if they see it slipping away. Zambrano is on the DL and they don't know how long he'll be there. C.C. would compliment Dempster and Lilly giving the Cubs a very solid 4 starters when Zambrano comes back.

As an Indians' fan I of course would hate to see CC go. But if I were in CC's position, a great pitcher and athlete who LOVES to hit (leads AL pitchers in interleague play with .300 AVG and 2HR), I would want to be in the NL. As he proved against the Dodgers, he has a bat and knows how to use il. If he is to be traded, look to see him use his influence to make it be to an NL club.

I feel that CC gets traded I don't see the Indians taking any outfield prospects in the deal for they are loaded with outfield talent at all minor league levels.

They may be interested in Street for a closer next season and the rest of this one as Joe Blow Borowski will be out of here in the next few weeks.

I don't see Joe Blanton as being an interesting piece also
I have seen him pick several times and looks like a 4 or 5 starter in the rotation and we have those slots covered with Miller / Huff / Lofgren / and others .

So Pitching isn't at the top unless you are talking a top end 1 or 2 in the future type guy that the Indians would control for 4 or 5 years Say Billingsley / Hughes / Lester / The Kid Price for the Rays . or a Closer like Broxton who has been mentioned as part or a CC package. . Other than that I feel
the Indians will get a pitcher in the package but most likely will be a top prospect at A or AA level 2 years out and most likely will be a righty.

There has been tons of rumors floating around involving Brewers - Weeks / Hall / and 3 to 4 top prospects for CC and Blake.

The Dodger is the most interesting the one I like the most
was reported on LA Radio according to the Jim Rome show
Broxton / Dewitt / Billingsley/ and 2 minor leaguers one thought to be 2nd baseman Preston Mattingley . For CC / Blake / Peralta / and Betancourt.

The Rays - Evan Longoria / David Price / Elliot Johnson / Jacob McGee / Matthew Fields.
For CC / Blake and Jensen Lewis

The Latest Rumor that The Yankees have said if they felt that CC was their guy and it took Trading a Hughes to make the deal happen then they would do it if that is what it took to move the Yankees to that next level .
Also reported on New York radio that unnamed person in the Yankee front office has said that they Yankees would want a window to try and work a deal with CC and his agent prior to any trade being completed the deal they want to offer is a 4 year 100,000,000 deal .

So then lets revisit the original yankee for CC rumor

Hughes / Jackson / Horne / Montero / and Tabata

for CC Sabathia basically 1 major league unproven player who has already been injuried and a disappointment and 4 Minor League Prospects.

Here is a paul byrd rumor

Paul Byrd to the Cubs for Tony Thomas 2nd baseman and Andres Torres Switchitting Outfielder

Now There is also talk that they may opt for Sowers over Byrd for a 5 starter and if they take Sowers instead of Byrd the Indians would also get Alessandro Maestri Pitcher .

My Red Sox have the means to make a trade for CC but Theo Epstein will not rent a player for a few months while he has to give up half the store to get him. We have a very rich farm system loaded with well scouted and developing prospects but you can bet your last dime that if the Sox make a move on the guy they will be damn sure to get his name on the dotted line on a new contract or just shine it on. The Indians don't seem to be going anywhere this year and they know they have to trade the guy or get nothing in return this year. If Theo bits on a short term deal for Sabathia the Indians will not get very much. Only a new extended contract will get what they might need from my team. The Red Sox are not the Dodgers or the Giants.

As an Oakland fan I would have to say that this deal would not make any sense. I mean we have plenty of pitching, both in the bigs and down on the farm. If anything we need solid and consistent hitting. Besides, even if we wanted to pull the trigger, the yankees would probably up their offer since they lost wang and are probably not expecting much from pavano (assuming he comes back).

If the A's want CC I really don't see anything mindblowing on the active roster other the Huston Street to center the package around . Will most likely take Street and about 4 prospects to get it done . Like Gio Gonzalez / Jesus Guzman/
Vincent Mazzaro / Carlos Hernandez .

This is the type of trade it will take to get a CC deal done if signed in avance of a trade.

Dustin Pedroia or Jon Lester and the following / Jed Lowrie / Michael Bowden / Felix Doubront / Argenis Diaz .

Baseball 777, then you can eliminate the Red Sox from any such deal. Pedroia is going nowhere and Lester is beginning to really assert himself. Now as for the other four, that could happen-----.