We Got Sabathia. Now What?

The realization that the Brewers have just acquired the 2007 CY Young winner is just starting to sink in for me, and I still don't believe it's real. By far, this is the biggest trade the Brewers have made in recent memory, perhaps even my lifetime. Some might bring up the deals including Sexson, Carlos Lee, and Overbay as other examples, but none of those compare to this. This is a mid-season blockbuster the Brewers have pulled off for one reason and one reason along. To win in October.

Jayson Stark of ESPN.com says the Brewers very well might be the team to beat in the NL come October, but the problem is it's still early July. Whether or not the Brewers even get to the playoffs still remain to be seen. However, two weeks ago I said the Wild Card has to be the Brewers to lose, and that was long before C.C. Sabathia was wearing Brewers blue. Now, anything sort of the playoffs would be a disappointment of gigantic proportions.

Think about that. Even with our recent success, the playoffs still felt like years away. Now, some say we are a lock to get there. While there are still plenty of games to be played between now and then, we have no choice but to get to the playoffs. It may not be a mindset we're used to, but it's one we're all welcoming with opens arms. Trust me.

So where does this put us? Well, we already were one of the better teams in the National League, now you have to think we're top two right with the Cubbies. Up and down, all 25 guys, the Cubs still probably have the better lineup, but we're right there with them. Add another bullpen arm, and utilize our September callups, and the NL Central crown could be ours for the taking.

It's sad to see some of these guys go, especially LaPorta, who has the potential to be a star in the league. But as I said a few weeks ago, this was a trade the Brewers had to make. We could rebuild through our prospects forever, but at some point we have to make a move and run with it.

If you look at our small market counterpart, the Twins, they've been relying on their prospects for years. They've been in contention, sure, but were never really a threat to win the World Series. They've always been hesitant to make a move like this, and because of that the best they could achieve was Division Champs. With this trade, it shows the Brewers won't settle for that, even though they haven't won anything in 26 years.

With the C.C. Sabathia trade, the Brewers are going for the jugular. They're "going for it", as Doug Melvin says himself. The Milwaukee Brewers, believe it or not, are aiming to be the champions of baseball.

I've been waiting for this move my entire life.