Sans Sabathia, Indians Start to Regroup

The Indians learned CC Sabathia was going to be traded during a flight home Sunday. It didn't really hit them until they came to the clubhouse yesterday without the popular left-hander.

"It's tough," all-star OF Grady Sizemore said before last night's game against the Tigers. "He was a big part of this team.

"It's tough to say goodbye to a good teammate and a good friend, but that's part of baseball."

Sabathia was sent to Milwaukee on Monday for OF Matt LaPorta, Ps Zach Jackson and Rob Bryson and a player to be named. All three new players were assigned to teams in the club's farm system.

The 6-foot-7, 290-pound lefty left quite an impression on his teammates.

"You couldn't tell a lot about what was going on in his life because he was always smiling and laughing," 3B Casey Blake said.

Sabathia went 19-7 last season with a 3.21 ERA and became the first Indians pitcher to win a Cy Young Award since 1972, but he lost both his starts against Boston in the ALCS. He rejected Cleveland's four-year, $72 million extension offer during spring training.

· YANKEES: Alex Rodriguez's decision to opt out of his contract last October cost him $200,000 in all-star bonuses from the team this year.

Rodriguez's old deal, which he agreed to with Texas before the 2001 season, contained provisions that earned him $100,000 bonus for making the AL all-star team and another $100,000 for receiving the most fan votes in his league.

New York inherited the old deal when it acquired Rodriguez from Texas in 2004. The Yankees do not give contracts with provisions that contain bonuses for all-star selection or awards such as MVP, Gold Glove and Silver Slugger.

· INJURIES: David Ortiz of the Red Sox reported no pain yesterday, a day after he took his first on-field batting practice since injuring a tendon in his left wrist almost six weeks ago. . . .

Tigers LHP Dontrelle Willis has tendinitis in his right knee, an MRI exam revealed. The team said the pitcher had a cortisone shot to reduce inflammation and was fitted for a brace to provide support when he resumes a program designed to help him regain control.

-- From News Services