Before you get up-in-arms about the Brewers "fleecing" Cleveland for hefty lefty and reigning Cy Young Award winner C.C. Sabathia, let's take a trip in the way-way back machine and revisit the headlines of June 27, 2002.MONTREAL -- The Expos took a big step toward the N.L. East pennant today by obtaining ace pitcher Bartolo Colon from the Cleveland Indians.
The Expos, who undoubtedly sealed their long-term future as the premier sporting franchise in Canada with the move, only had to part with journeyman first baseman Lee Stevens and a package of unknown minor-league "prospects," none of whom will ever likely amount to a hill of beans.
Those minor leaguers include second baseman Brandon Phillips, pitcher Cliff Lee, and outfielder Grady Sizemore.
Fast-forward six years, and you'll note that Phillips is an all-star-caliber infielder for the Reds who hit 30 home runs last year; Lee is 11-2 with a 2.43 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP and is the likely choice to start the All-Star Game for the American League this year; and Sizemore is heralded as one of the top five-tool players in the game and currently leads the AL with 22 home runs.
But that Lee Stevens sure was a stiff.
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Not to mention the Expo's curious designation as the "long term future as the premier sporting franchise in Canada." By then, weren't they already using their farm prospects to pack their U-Hauls for the trip south? tws
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