Sabathia is a great addition, but will it be enough for Milwaukee?

The first blockbuster deal of the 2008 Major League Baseball season took place yesterday, as ace hurler C.C. Sabathia was shipped from Cleveland to Milwaukee. This major trade makes the Brew Crew infinitely more dangerous, and Sabathia's arrival might allow sports fans throughout Wisconsin to momentarily forget about yet another summer of the Brett Favre guessing game.

C.C. Sabathia has proven himself to be one of the best pitchers in the game, and certainly one of the most physically imposing. But does this acquisition really make the Brewers World Series contenders? Sorry, Milwaukee, but the answer is no. The NL Central is still Chicago's division to lose. Milwaukee has great offensive prowess with the likes of Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, and J.J. Hardy, but the Cubs' bats are even more threatening, with Aramis Ramirez, Derrek Lee, Alfonso Soriano, Kosuke Fokudome, and Geovany Soto. Sabathia adds to an already impressive Brewers rotation, but, then again, the Cubs have a guy by the name of Carlos Zambrano. Yes, there are those who believe the Cubbies are forever cursed, but Lou Pinella's team is just too good to lose this division, no matter how hard Milwaukee tries. And lets not forget St. Louis, as the Cards are still very much in the race.

Even if the Sabathia pickup doesn't bring all the success the organization and its fans are thirsting for, you have to admire this all-or-nothing approach from GM Doug Melvin. However, there is a very strong likelihood that Ned Yost's ballclub will once again be on the outside looking in once October rolls around.

C.C. Sabathia puts Milwaukee in the postseason discussion. But I wouldn't start printing World Series tickets just yet.