Yes, you read right, Javy Vazquez is going to be a Yankee again and Boone Logan will be coming with him. When I saw this I literally went ‘What the hell!’ I almost wanted to rise up out of my seat and threw my computer out my second story office. Guess who the Yankees gave up? Melky Cabrera, Arodys Vizcaino, and Mike Dunn.
Gut reaction to this deal is still bewilderment. Javy Vazquez, in his time in the American League wasn’t that great. His best year in the AL was in 2007 when he was 15-8 with a 3.97 ERA with the Chicago White Sox. Otherwise his ERA in the other years was: 4.91 (2004 Yankees), 4.84 (2006 White Sox), 4.67 (2008 White Sox). In 2004, Vasquez was decent for two months, April (2.55 ERA) and June (2.66 ERA). The other months he had an ERA above 5. After the season, in a move Brian Cashman didn’t want to make, he was sent to Arizona in the deal that brought the Big Unit to the Bronx.
Cashman is likely being sucked into the illusion of Vazquez pitching in the National League again. In 2003 with the Expos, Vazquez was 12-10 with a 3.24 ERA with 241 K’s in 230.1 innings. In 2009 with the Braves, Vasquez was 15-10 with a 2.87 ERA, 238 K’s in 219.1 innings. We found out that didn’t translate into results in the American League.
This raises a few questions, does this mean that Cashman will want to start 2010 with Brett Gardner in LF? Or does this deal open the door for a potential deal for Johnny Damon? The Yankees will take on Vasquez’s full contract according to David O’Brien. This also spells the departure for either Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain from the 2010 rotation. While Cashman will likely say that they’ll prepare as starters in Spring Training, I think it is likely that we’ll see Hughes fall back into his setup role for Mariano.
Let me go on record to say that I don’t like this deal at all. Vazquez’s track record in the American League isn’t good and it isn’t likely Cashman acquired him to setup Mariano in 2010. While I think he has great stuff (and I did in 2004), I am not sure how great he’ll be in the AL East, but I guess we’ll find out this year, won’t we? Your thoughts?
Zell’s Take: I love this deal. I was one of those people who couldn’t wait until Melky left this team. They are supposedly giving up Dunn and Vizcaino, but nothing is final. They have now added Granderson, Johnson, and Vazquez and they haven’t dealt either Hughes or Joba. I call that a successful off-season.
The Yankees finally got that starting pitcher they needed. We all know what Vazquez did for the Yankees, but maybe it will be different this time around. He had a 2.87ERA in the NL last year, while racking up 238K’s. We all know how important power pitchers are when it comes to the postseason. Vazquez as a #4 starter? Many teams would kill to have that. Does this mean Hughes takes the 5th spot..and Joba goes back to the bullpen where he belongs?
I have a feeling the Yankees won’t be going into next season with Gardner in LF, and they will go after an outfielder. I would guess Mark DeRosa.
Kevin Rozell
M. B. Rozell
Ray Rothfeldt
Eduardo Perez
It takes the same amount of energy to think positively as it does negatively. He’s our number 4 starter that finished 4th in the NL Cy Young voting. He has won 10 games+ in each of the last ten years. He has pitched 200 innings every year for the last ten years besides 1 in which he pitched 198 innings. He struck out 200 in half of the last decade. WHAT ELSE CAN YOU ASK FOR FROM YOUR NUMBER FOUR????????????????????
How about…an ERA UNDER 4 for starters. I hate this trade, too. I still remember how unmemorable Vasquez was in 2004. It seems like the Yanks and Sux are trying to outdo each other in stupid deals this off season.
I’m with you, Zell. I hate this trade!!!
Rob, I had the same initial reaction you did, but them I have come around to a different viewpoint after thinking it through.
Faiaz, makes a number of good points and Sam Borden has a pretty good post up, in terms of the present, the future and some of the deficiencies you have addressed:
http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2009/12/22/addressing-the-present-saving-for-the-future-and-a-special-live-chat-today/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LohudYankees+(The+LoHud+Yankees+Blog)&utm_content=Google+Reader
Seems to me that this opens the door for Damon to come back at 2 yrs/ 20 mill now.
Oddly, yesterday the buzz was Melky to Chicago Cubs for Zambrano and even Swish to Atlanta???
I will miss Melky Man, his energy, his arm, his dynamic nature….
Gotta read the author of the article. lol. Rob hates it. I like it.
Couldn’t agree more with you. As a #4 starter…and only giving up Melky and a few prospects…great deal. Many teams would kill for a 4th starter like Javy. He’s not expected to be our ace….
Zell
I like it and I don’t. Only giving up Melky, Dunn, and Vizcaino makes it seem like a steal, no GM in their right mind would turn down that deal.
I still have my trepidations about his effectiveness in the AL, but when a guy like that is your #3 or 4 you cant complain too much.
I like the deal quite a bit. I don’t think that 15-10, 4.20 ERA, 200 IP, and a K/IP is unreasonable to expect from a #4 starter. Javy, by the way, is better at #4 than practically any team can trot out. He is more mature than he was in 2004, he pitched hurt in the second half of 2004, and he is in the last year of his contract so he will undoubtedly be motivated.
Melky had a nice 2009 (13 HR, 68 RBI, .274/.336), but I was not sold that he would replicate that in 2010. The Yankees probably need another OF (although I feel optimistic about Hoffmann if he gets a crack). Other than that, the Yanks are in great shape. Imagine, either Joba or Hughes doing setup work along with all we’ve discussed.
If they’re healthy, starting considering repeat.
Zell,
“I have a feeling the Yankees won’t be going into next season with Gardner in LF,” I agree.
I think there is a pretty good chance we see Granderson in LF with Gardner in CF IF Cashman doesn’t acquire another outfielder.
Love the trade
@ Kevin and Rob, the word from NY Daily News insider is that the Yanks will pass on retaining Damon….do you agree with that and what other options do you see either internally, FA, trade, etc??? Keeping in mind their “stated” goal to stay under 201 mill payroll.
They could always resign Nady and play Gardner until Nady returns. Nady wouldn’t be as costly as Damon and is a better fielder. However, playing Gardner really wouldn’t be that bad of an option because after all, the left fielder will likely be the 9th place hitter, so its not like you need Holliday/Bay etc al….
Nady could be J Damon part II with that elbow held together by scotch tape. I don’t much like Nady or Damon and the price tags for Holliday/Bay are too high. I’d like to see them try and piece LF together with Grandy/Gardner/Hoffmann if possible, and snag Crawford next year and put him in the 2 hole.