CLEVELAND – There won't be any pennants or championship flags raised over Progressive Field this year.

Only a white one.

It's time for the Cleveland Indians to surrender.

A promising season sabotaged by injuries to star players and underachievement by most others has reached its point of no return. The defending AL Central champions are in last place, 12½ games back in their division and on the verge of an overhaul – one that will likely include trading ace C.C. Sabathia.

The left-hander, eligible for free agency following the World Series, may be down to his final days with the Indians, who drafted him in 1998, developed him into one of the AL's premier power pitchers and now can't afford to keep him.

Sabathia rejected a four-year, $72 million contract extension from the Indians during spring training, when he announced on his Web site that he was putting off further negotiations on any deal until after the season. Unless he's willing to reopen talks soon, Sabathia, who received a no-decision Wednesday in Chicago, may be pitching for a contender before the July 31 trading deadline.

The Indians may up their offer to Sabathia, but their chances of keeping him appear to be longer than ever.

General manager Mark Shapiro wouldn't comment specifically Thursday on trade talks involving Sabathia, who went 19-7 last year to become Cleveland's first Cy Young Award winner since Gaylord Perry in 1972. Shapiro, though, did indicate his club could undergo some significant changes in the next few weeks.

“It's fairly obvious where we're at,” Shapiro said. “Our expectations have not been met, and it's bitterly disappointing.”

If the Indians decide to trade Sabathia, Shapiro has to decide which team can offer him the best package for the soon-to-be 28-year-old. The Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, Milwaukee Brewers, Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees are among the teams expected to make a strong pitch for Sabathia.

Any team willing to bid for Sabathia must also feel confident it can sign him to a long-term deal in the offseason, a fact that could drive up the Indians' asking price. Shapiro may decide to ride out the season with Sabathia. If he does, and Sabathia leaves as a free agent this winter, Cleveland would receive two first-round draft picks as compensation.

But those two players may not be able to help the Indians immediately, which is why Shapiro, who traded Bartolo Colon to trigger a massive rebuild with Cleveland in 2002, may be more inclined to deal for proven major-league veterans instead of prospects if he feels his club can quickly rebound from this calamitous season.

After being swept in three straight by the first-place White Sox, who won the final two games with walk-off hits in extra innings against Cleveland's deplorable bullpen, the Indians were off Thursday. They'll continue an eight-game road trip, one manager Eric Wedge deemed “make or break” before it started, Friday in Minnesota.

Shapiro planned to use the one-day pause to confer with Wedge and the Indians' coaching staff about some possible roster changes as the Indians transition into the season's final three months and begin to point toward 2009.

Cleveland's shocking collapse – the Indians won 96 games last season and took the Red Sox to Game 7 in the ALCS – was quickened by injuries to All-Star catcher Victor Martinez, designated hitter Travis Hafner, right-handers Jake Westbrook (out for the season) and Fausto Carmona.

“I'm not sure any team could overcome the loss of four core players, players who when they were playing were playing hurt,” Shapiro said. “It's been tough.”

Never one to make excuses, Shapiro refuses to place any blame on Wedge, whom he feels has been exemplary while handling the adversity.

“Eric has done as good a job as he has ever done,” Shapiro said. “He has been positive. He has been patient. There's nothing he could have done to offset what has happened.”