Dodgers History: MLB insider reveals LA's failed pursuit of CC Sabathia in 2008

In July 2008, the Milwaukee Brewers acquired Hall of Fame starting pitcher CC Sabathia in a trade that changed the trajectory of their franchise. Sabathia made 17 starts for the Brew Crew that season, going 11-2 with a 1.64 ERA and launched Milwaukee into the franchise's first postseason in over a quarter-century. He signed with the New York Yankees the following offseason, but his impact on Milwaukee already secured.

Interestingly, the Los Angeles Dodgers were also in on Sabathia that summer, and the reason that LA came up short can be boiled down to a disagreement between the front office and ownership.

Dodgers' lack of unity in upper management cost them CC Sabathia in 2008

USA Today columnist Bob Nightengale recently revealed that Ned Colletti, the Dodgers' general manager at the time, was 100% in on Sabathia, as was then-manager Joe Torre. To pry him away, Colletti was ready to offer Cleveland a five-player package headlined by catcher Carlos Santana.

Unfortunately, Dodgers owner Frank McCourt shot down the idea on account of not wanting to take on Sabathia's $10 million salary while also parting ways with several key prospects. The Dodgers finished first in the National League West that season and ultimately fell in the NLCS to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Colletti still believes that Sabathia would have given LA a real chance to defeat Philly and advance to the World Series, especially since the Dodgers acquired Greg Maddux and Manny Ramirez shortly after missing out on Sabathia. "Can you imagine if we had all three of those guys when we played Philly in the postseason?" Colletti told Nightengale.

Nightengale then made an astute comparison between Sabathia's 2008 situation and Tarik Skubal's current one. Like Sabathia at that time, Skubal is in the last year of his current deal and could become a "rental" player for whoever acquires him. Most observers seem to be believe that the Dodgers are at the front of the line.

The modern landscape of MLB doesn't lend itself as naturally to such boldness. , and they end up tripping over their own hesitancy.

Though most general managers and front office personnel worry about giving up too much young talent in order to acquire a star player, don't count the Dodgers as part of that trend. President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has authored the most famous modern quote on free agency, stating that, "If you're always rational about every free agent, you will finish third on every free agent."

If 2026 Skubal is 2008 Sabathia, these Dodgers are prepared to be as aggressive as the 2008-version of the Brewers. That should scare the rest of the league.

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