Cliff Lee: The Pitcher the Milwaukee Brewers Should Acquire

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

The biggest topic of debate for Milwaukee Brewer fans lately has been whether or not the team should trade for Jake Peavy.

While the majority of fans seem to be against the trade, there are many that would love nothing more to see Peavy suit up for the Brewers. I fall on the side of staying away from Peavy, but I do have a thought on which pitcher the Brewers should bring in.

Doug Melvin should stick to the formula that worked for him last year. Make a trade with the Cleveland Indians for a left-hander who happens to be the defending AL Cy Young winner. Stop me if this sounds familiar.

That's right; Cliff Lee can serve as this year's addition that propels the Brewers towards a second consecutive season in the playoffs.

While Lee isn't nearly the pitcher that C.C. Sabathia was or is, he is certainly capable of coming to Milwaukee and bringing some of the strengths that would prove him just as valuable as Sabathia.

Lee has struggled coming off of his Cy Young award last season. His record sits at 2-6. However he is pitching much better than his record indicates.

Lee pitched only five innings in each of his first two starts. He gave up seven and four runs respectively in those two starts, but he has been on a tear since.

In his last nine starts, Lee has pitched at least six innings in every start. He has not given up more than three runs in any of those starts either. That's nine straight quality starts, an addition that any starting rotation could use.

Lee isn't the overpowering type of pitcher that CC Sabathia is. In 74 innings this year, Lee has only 54 strikeouts. More importantly, he has only walked 16 batters. That's fewer than any other Milwaukee starter, and Lee has significantly more innings pitched than any starter for the Brewers as well.

Lee gives up a lot of hits, but with the Brewers fielding a solid defense, he should be able to keep his run totals right around where they are at now.

The contract situation for Cliff Lee is a bit complicated but it is much more "payroll friendly" than that of Jake Peavy. He has an $8 million club option for 2010, with a $1 million buyout. If Lee pitches well, the Brewers could pick up the option and then possibly look to either decline Braden Looper's option or trade someone like Manny Parra for more help.

While the Indians haven't given up on the 2009 season quite yet, they do sit in last place of the AL Central and could become sellers very soon. Grady Sizemore was just put on the disabled list, and Victor Martinez is banged up as well.

Lee should also cost the Brewers much less in prospects than what C.C. Sabathia did. In fact, the Brewers would be best served by trying to get a "package deal" from the Indians.

If the Brewers could get the Indians to part with Lee and Mark DeRosa, it would ease several problems for the team.

Lee would slide into the upper half of the rotation, and DeRosa could become the full-time second baseman. That would allow Craig Counsell to slide back into his bench role and strengthen the bench.

So what would the Indians be looking for in prospects?

Victor Martinez is too valuable of a hitter to be a long-term answer at catcher. The Brewers could offer Angel Salome or Jonathan Lucroy as the main piece of the trade to the Indians. Each is expected to reach the majors someday as a catcher.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?