Yankees acquire Javier Vazquez

by Eli Greenspan on Dec 22, 2009 10:40 AM EST Comment 9 comments

The Yankees and Braves have agreed to a deal that would send pitcher Javier Vazquez and Boone Logan to the Yankees in exchange for outfielder Melky Cabrera, lefty pitcher Michael Dunn, and righty pitcher Arodys Vizcaino.

Vazquez was rumored in a deal with the Angels last week, but the Yankees apparently swooped in and cut a fast deal.

Vazquez, who will make 10.5 million dollars in 2010, will give them a nice fifth starter a former Yankee who is familiar with the AL East.

Vazquez posted a 2.87 ERA in 2009, but that is expected to shoot back up now that he is in the American League again.

Cabrera fills a hole in the Braves' outfielder, but he is not guaranteed the spot season long. However, a move to the NL could spell success for Cabrera, who put together a fairly strong season in 2009.

	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
2009 - Melky Cabrera	154	485	66	133	28	1	13	68	43	59	10	2	.274	.336	.416

Dunn owns a 3.62 career minor league ERA in 110 appearances.

Vizcaino, 19, owns a 2.93 ERA in his brief minor league career, but has a high ceiling that should excite the Braves.

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Disgusting...

When money wins at all …

by julolo on Dec 22, 2009 1:09 PM EST reply actions

The most underrated pitcher of the decade.

Atleast 10 wins per season. The only pitcher to accomplish this feat.

by JP 23 on Dec 22, 2009 1:34 PM EST via mobile reply actions

How is this about money in the Yankees case? Any team could trade for Vazquez the Red Sox, Mets, even a smaller market team. The Yankees had the prospects.

by Brandon C. on Dec 22, 2009 1:40 PM EST reply actions

Kidding ?

Vazquez was 2.87 and 15-10 with 238 K… simply his best season, by far… so the Braves should have received some better prospects than Dunn and Vizcaino.
Red Sox ? They just signed Lackey and have other priorities like dealing for Gonzalez.
Mets ? They’re working on a big contract for Jason Bay and allready have a lot of salary to pay… and everybody knows they Yankees title get them in trouble.
Vazquez makes 11 millions per season, that’s not simple to add this kind of salary for small market teams.
Seriously, Yankees are just eating the mlb. They’re doing like, if you like soccer, the Real Madrid.

by julolo on Dec 22, 2009 2:04 PM EST up reply actions

Like I said any othert team COULD have traded for him.

And if we are arguing about money how about Lackey signing with the Red Sox? Did they just magically receive him or did they give him money?

What I am trying to say (I stated it poorly, I admit) is that the Yankees traded some pretty good prospects in Dunn and Vizcaino and sure, they do have to pay his salary, but there are still some teams that can afford a 1 year 11.5 mil contract right now. I am more defensive about the Yankees when it is a trade. If this was a signing I would understand your point.

Sorry, not a soccer fan but I get the point.

by Brandon C. on Dec 22, 2009 10:20 PM EST reply actions

You can’t compare the Red Sox and Yankees when you speak about money. Red Sox don’t have contracts like A-Rod, Teix and Jeter have.
And what about the 25 millions luxury tax ?
One thing is true, when some player with big contract is tradable, the Yankees are ALWAYS in negociations.

by julolo on Dec 23, 2009 6:32 AM EST reply actions

Are you serious?

You can’t do any better than that to justify a ridiculous trade?

Of course any team could have had him…assuming they could take on 11 million (for a 4th starter, oh cool) AND give up a major league average outfielder (Cabrera) AND give up a couple more prospects, even if they aren’t big named ones.

Here’s a little breakdown:

Ability to take on Vazquez’s contract — Because they have Money
Ability to give up Cabrera — Because they have Money to sign someone else better
Ability to give up prospects — Because they have money to throw at international free agents so mid-level prospects are insignificant to them.

Reason why the Braves would trade a pretty decent pitcher — Because they need to free up Money to improve their offense.

And comparing the Yankees spending to any other team is a joke.

Distance between 1st (Yankees) and 2nd (Mets) in payroll: $65 million dollars
Distance between 2nd (Mets) and 21st (Royals) in payroll: $65 million dollars

$65 million is as much as 7 teams or what it would take to sign 3 elite players…

by A's_fan_in_NJ on Dec 23, 2009 8:07 AM EST reply actions

As of now

The Yankees have Gardner as their starting left fielder and for now it doesnt look like they are signing anyone. Obviously the Yankees spend alot and obviously it is an unfair advantage, but what my point was about the Red Sox was the Red Sox could have traded for Vazquez over signing Lackey and the Yankees couldn’t do both. Both teams picked an expensive option so, in this case, they both spent the money. Overall, the Yankees spend the most money by far out of the MLB, but in this specific case I do not feel it was an unfair advantage.

by Brandon C. on Dec 23, 2009 9:47 AM EST up reply actions