By ALBERT GRINDLE

Just over a week ago, it was reported the Indians were making a last-ditch effort to extend ace C.C. Sabathia’s contract, which expires after this season.

However, as quickly as those reports surfaced, the tides changed. Now it seems to be matter of if, not when, “Big C” is traded to another team.

After nearly a month of speculation as to which teams were interested in Sabathia, a report surfaced Friday in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that the Brewers are making a serious push to obtain the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner.

If there is any interested party the Indians want to deal with at this point, the Brewers would be among the cream of the crop.

Heading into Independence Day play, Milwaukee was 1½ games back of wild-card leader St. Louis and just four games behind first place Chicago in the National League Central Division, so it has the motivation to acquire Sabathia for a second-half push.

Even if the Brewers can’t re-sign Sabathia, they would receive two first-round compensation picks in the 2009 draft, as well as three more on top of that if they lose current ace Ben Sheets to free agency.

What makes the Brewers a very intriguing option for the Wahoos is they have arguably the best crop of Double-AA players in all of baseball, which is why the Indians have sent numerous scouts to Huntsville, Ala. to check things out.

According to the Journal-Sentinel, the Brewers have already offered Huntsville Stars outfielder/first baseman Matt LaPorta in a potential deal.

While many haven’t heard of the former Florida Gators standout, the 23-year-old has been labeled by many as a prospect who has a chance to become a bonafide star, which is exactly what the Tribe would be looking for as a bounty for Sabathia.

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound LaPorta hits and throws right-handed. He hit over .400 as a senior at Florida, and was strong in his first minor-league season with 11 home runs in 115 at-bats to go along with a .304 average.

What LaPorta has done so far this year has officially shot him up the top prospect charts.

Through Thursday’s action, LaPorta was hitting .291 for Huntsville with an impressive 20 taters and 66 RBI in 82 games. His strikeout-to-walk ratio is a respectable 62-44 and he has also roped 23 doubles. In total, 52.3 percent of his hits have gone for extra bases.

Whether it would be as a corner outfielder or a first baseman, LaPorta could be a great piece to the Indians’ rebuilding puzzle. His power and discipline would be a much-needed upgrade to a minor league system that is struggling to develop top hitters.

Others rumored but not confirmed in talks are Hunstville shortstop Alicdes Escobar and High Single-A third baseman Taylor Green.

Escobar fits the bill of recent Caribbean infielders as a slick fielder who hits for a high average (.331) and steals bases (22), but shows little patience at the dish (18 walks in 363 at-bats).

Green, meanwhile, is hitting .297 with 10 dingers and 50 RBI for Brevard County, and would give Cleveland some third base depth behind Wes Hodges, who is holding his own for the Akron Aeros.

As long as Cleveland can pry away LaPorta from the Brew Crew, the other prospects involved would be gravy.

Cleveland general manager Mark Shapiro has worked similar magic before, as we all remember the Tribe getting Cliff Lee, Brandon Phillips and Grady Sizemore from Montreal for Bartolo Colon a few years back.

Milwaukee would be an excellent destination for Sabathia because, most importantly, the Indians wouldn’t see him until the World Series (stop laughing) and would have arguably a can’t-miss slugger in LaPorta.

The Indians will most likely field offers from every team they can before the July 31 trade deadline, but the Brewers have made it known they’re willing to give up some big pieces that nearly every other club can’t match. 

Grindle may be reached at agrindle@ohio.net or 330-721-4043.