Yankees acquire Javier Vazquez in five-player trade with Braves
Posted on December 22, 2009
Javier Vazquez of the Atlanta Braves pitches against the San Francisco Giants during the game at AT&T Park on May 25, 2009 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)
The New York Yankees have bolstered their starting rotation by re-acquiring right-handed pitcher Javier Vazquez this morning in a five-player trade with the Atlanta Braves. To get Vazquez the Yankees sent outfielder Melky Cabrera and two pitching prospects, left-hander Mike Dunn and right-hander Arodys Vizcaino, along with about $500,000.
Melky Cabrera of the New York Yankees bats during the game against the Oakland Athletics at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, California on April 15, 2007. (Photo by Brad Mangin/MLB Photos)
Vazquez went 15-10 with a 2.87 ERA and 238 strikeouts in 2009 for the Braves, and finished fourth in the National League Cy Young Award voting. He has a career record is 142-139 in 12 seasons, and will make $11.5 million next year and can become a free agent after the season. He will join a potent Yankee starting rotation that includes CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte.
Javier Vazquez of the Chicago White Sox pitches during the game against the Oakland Athletics at the McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, California on August 17, 2008. (Photo by Brad Mangin)
Vazquez spent the 2004 season with the Yankees, where he went 14-10. He got off to a great start that year and made the AL All-Star team, but faded to a 4-5 record and 6.92 ERA after the break. His stay in New York could not have ended worse that season as he gave up a first-pitch grand slam to Johnny Damon of the Red Sox while relieving Kevin Brown in Game 7 of the ALCS. After this implosion I am sure Yankee fans thought they would never see Vazquez in the pinstripes again.
Javier Vazquez of the Atlanta Braves watches from the dugout against the San Francisco Giants during the game at AT&T Park on May 25, 2009 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)
Entering the 2010 season Vazquez has a 142-139 lifetime record after showing tremendous promise as a young pitcher with the Expos. However, whenever I think if Vazquez I think of his many meltdowns, including the above-mentioned in the 2004 ALCS. I also think of his miserable 2008 season with the White Sox when he got lit up in the playoffs against Tampa Bay and could not be counted on down the stretch. I wonder how he will adjust to being back in New York?
Javier Vazquez of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches during a game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California. October 1, 2005. (Photo by Brad Mangin)
I think Vazquez will have a nice year for the Yankees in 2010 because he will not have to be THE GUY. He was counted on too much back in 2004, but in 2010 he will be the 4th man in the starting rotation. He will not have the pressure heaped upon him like in 2004. I think this is a good trade for the Yankees, and it will force them to go out get someone big to fill the hole in left field that has been vacated by the departure of Cabrera.
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