Sabathia-to-Milwaukee trade brewing

July 7, 2008

The Milwaukee Brewers are extremely close to a deal to acquire Indians ace C.C. Sabathia in a trade that bolsters their rotation for a playoff push, a person with direct knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press yesterday. The person requested anonymity because the trade has not been finalized and said there were a few remaining issues to work out. Sabathia went 19-7 with a 3.21 ERA to win the AL Cy Young last season and would give the Brewers another power pitcher to pair with Ben Sheets as Milwaukee tries to make the playoffs for the first time since 1982. The big lefty is 6-8 with a 3.83 ERA for the Indians. To get Sabathia, Milwaukee will have to part with a package of prospects, including power-hitting left fielder Matt LaPorta . . . Brad Lidge's perfect first half earned him a fat, new contract. Lidge signed a $37.5 million, three-year extension with the Philadelphia Phillies. The hard-throwing closer is 2-0 with 19 saves in as many chances in his first season with the Phillies . . . Roy Oswalt had his strained left hip examined, but Houston manager Cecil Cooper had no update on a prognosis for the Astros' ace, who is expected to throw off flat ground today and have a bullpen session tomorrow . . . Washington Nationals outfielder Elijah Dukes will be sidelined for 4-6 weeks because of a knee injury suffered Saturday night . . . Four outs in two relief outings was enough for the St. Louis Cardinals to put Mark Mulder back in the rotation. The lefthander will make his first start since September Wednesday at Philadelphia. The former 20-game winner takes the rotation spot of Mitchell Boggs, who was demoted to Triple A Memphis. The Cardinals also activated shortstop Cesar Izturis (hamstring) from the 15-day disabled list, placed outfielder Brian Barton on the DL with an injured hand, and recalled outfielder Joe Mather from Memphis. Mulder, coming back from two shoulder operations, allowed two runs and four hits in 1 1/3 innings in the first two relief appearances of his career . . . Seattle Mariners starter Erik Bedard will have his next start pushed back a couple of days after experiencing tightness in his throwing shoulder. The Mariners could get Felix Hernandez (left ankle) back in the rotation Thursday or Friday . . . Bobby Kielty drove in three runs for the visiting Pawtucket Red Sox in their 8-5 victory over the Richmond Braves.

Scott Dixon's bid for a fourth straight victory on the road course in Watkins Glen, N.Y., ended with an uncharacteristic mistake that gave Ryan Hunter-Reay the opening he needed to earn his first IndyCar Series victory. Dixon, preparing to make a run at leader Darren Manning after a long caution period, spun out under yellow and was hit from behind by contender Ryan Briscoe. That gave the runner-up spot to Hunter-Reay, who easily passed Manning on the restart and drove away with the fourth series win for Rahal Letterman Racing . . . Lewis Hamilton mastered wild and wet racing conditions to score a runaway victory at the British Grand Prix in Silverstone, England. Hamilton lapped all but two of the field and finished more than a minute ahead of Nick Heidfeld's BMW Sauber.

Owen Nolan, a 36-year-old power forward who spent last season with Calgary, signed a two-year, $5.5 million deal with the Minnesota Wild. Nolan had 16 goals and 16 assists last season, his 16th in the NHL . . . Amir Hadad beat Nathan Healy, 5-3, in men's singles, but the visiting Boston Lobsters lost, 23-16, to the New York Buzz and fell to 0-2 in World TeamTennis . . . In WNBA play, Becky Hammon scored a season-high 28 points for the San Antonio Silver Stars, who held off the host Washington Mystics for an 83-75 win, and Candace Parker had 31 points and 10 rebounds to lead the host Los Angeles Sparks to a 91-80 victory over the Phoenix Mercury . . . Mint Lane won the $200,000 Dwyer Stakes, the first major 3-year-old race at Belmont following the Belmont Stakes. With Eibar Coa aboard, Mint Lane rolled to a 2 3/4-length win . . . Louisville receiver JaJuan Spillman was dismissed from the team following his second arrest in 18 months. Spillman was arrested last week on charges of driving under the influence, carrying a concealed weapon, and having no insurance.