Trade talks are apparently being finalized between the Cleveland Indians and Milwaukee Brewers for reigning Cy Young award winner C.C. Sabathia. A move is imminent, and the Brewers have one foot in the door in negotiations with a deal that centers around minor league outfielder Matt LaPorta, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

The Journal-Sentinel has also reported that the Brewers are aiming to finalize the deal in time for Sabathia to make his next scheduled start at home against the Rockies.

A deal can only serve to benefit Sabathia, who is currently backed by baseball’s worst bullpen and an offense that struggles to generate runs. A move to Milwaukee would help in both areas, and he would have an opportunity to face the softer hitting, DH-less lineups in the National League.

Sabathia would be facing many of the N.L.’s hitters for the first time. They will have a difficult time solving his stifling fastball-curveball-changeup combination, while Sabathia’s gigantic 6-foot-7, 250 pound frame will no doubt intimidate.

The Milwaukee bullpen isn’t prolific, but it does offer a little more stability than Cleveland’s. Same deal with the Brewers’ lineup, which is powerful but inconsistent in providing run support. Sabathia, an innings horse, relies less on his bullpen than most starting pitchers and can keep his team in any game it plays.

Escaping a sinking ship and moving to the National League will ultimately benefit Sabathia, but we likely won’t see a huge boost in his fantasy value. With the same dominance he has exerted over the last two months, Sabathia will have an easier time coming by wins, but his hefty strikeouts total and steadily improving ERA and WHIP numbers should go unchanged.

The Brewers, meanwhile, would have a legitimate 1-2 punch with Sabathia and right-hander Ben Sheets and a nice insurance plan in place, should the brittle Sheets go down with an injury.

The center piece going from Milwaukee to Cleveland, LaPorta, is immediately in better position to wear a major league uniform. Blocked at both corner outfield positions by Ryan Braun and Corey Hart in Milwaukee, LaPorta will have a much better opportunity to showcase his skills for the struggling Tribe offense.

LaPorta will likely arrive in Cleveland by midseason 2009, according to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer.

Those in keeper leagues and deeper 10-team leagues should monitor this situation very closely. Sabathia and LaPorta are also big names to become available in NL and AL only leagues, respectively.

Dustin Hockensmith is editor of ImaginaryDiamond.com. He can be contacted at dhockensmith[at]fantasysports101.net.