Imaginary Sports Writer

Now that C.C. Sabathia has officially been announced as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers, the Cubs can move on with the rest of their life. Jim Hendry and the gang can move on to other, more reasonable options. None of them are as intriguing as renting Sabathia for the rest of the season, but it doesn’t mean they can’t be just as effective.

If the Cubs had managed to deal for Sabathia, I would’ve started looking for a way to pre-order World Series DVDs and t-shirts, but making a deadline deal isn’t always necessary. The last four World Series champions: Red Sox, Cardinals, and White Sox, added Eric Gagne, Jeff Weaver, and Geoff Blum, respectively, near the deadline. None of those guys created the buzz that Sabathia did, or made the team they were traded to the obvious favorites.

You can say the Red Sox and the White Sox didn’t have to make a big deal, because they were already talented enough, but the Cardinals had holes to fill at the deadline. Still, it didn’t matter, and like Jayson Stark wrote, the deals don’t match the hype. Especially when it comes to pitchers.

Curt Schilling went from the Phillies to the Diamondbacks in 2000, went 5-6, and did little to help the D’Backs that season. The next season he helped them win the World Series, but I doubt the Brewers will be  able to sign Sabathia for another season.

The Expos also made a deadline deal for Bartolo Colon in 2002 (giving up Cliff Lee, Grady Sizemore, and Brandon Phillips). When the deal was made at the end of June, the Expos were only 6.5 games behind the Braves. They ended the season 19 games back.

The big trades that season, by the Giants and the Angels (who played in the World Series) were for Kenny Lofton and Alex Ochoa, respectively.

A.J. Burnett, Rich Harden, Joe Blanton and Randy Wolf all may be on the move. Maybe, one of them can be the Cubs’ Alex Ochoa.

ESPN.com (Deadline deals don’t match the hype )

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