The Milwaukee Brewers needed an Ace in 2008. Their ball club was 49-40 on July 7th of that season. Cleveland ace C.C. Sabathia was due to be a free agent following the end of that summer, so the faltering ball club sent C.C. to the contenting Brewers for a package of Matt LaPorta, Zach Jackson, Rob Bryson and player to be named later.

C.C would start July 8 against the Rockies. He went six innings and gave up three runs, two earned.

However, his next start began a trend. In three straight games, he threw a complete game, one of which was a shutout. Two starts later, he pitched into the eighth, before pitching another shutout. He would have two more shutouts that month, including a one-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates. By then he began pitching on three or four days rest, trying to wield the Brewers into a Wild Card spot in the NL. It all came down to game 162, facing the Cubs where C.C. shined his brightest. He pitched a complete game, only giving up one unearned run and striking out seven, punching the Brewers’ ticket to the playoffs.

However, the dominance ended in the postseason, as he was burned for five runs, four from a Shane Victorino grand slam, that sent the Brewers home early. C.C ended up signing with the Yankees in the offseason.

All told his record combined was 17-10 with a 2.70 ERA, but in his time with the Brew Crew, he was 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA. For the season that the Brewers had, he was definitely worth the trade.

Speaking of which, remember the player to be named later, well it turns out, there was a clause that stipulated that if the Brewers made the playoffs the Indians could get to choose who they wanted from a selected list of players instead of a predetermined Taylor Greene. The player they picked, was Michael Brantley.