REPORT: Yankees acquire Javier Vazquez and a reliever from the Braves for Melky Cabrera, Mike Dunn
Dec 22, 2009, 9:50 AM EDT
Multiple sources, including Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman, the New York Post’s Joel Sherman and the Daily News’ Mark Feinsand are reporting that the Yankees and Braves have agreed to a trade in which the Braves will send starter Javier Vazquez and reliever Boone Logan to the Yankees in exchange for Melky Cabrera, lefty Mike Dunn and an as yet unnamed prospect. UPDATE: Joel Sherman tweets that the prospect is righty pitcher Arodys Vizcaino, who he says impressed in a short season for Staten Island this year. [random thought: with that name, how many Braves fans can I fool by saying that they got "Arod" from the Yankees?]
Instant analysis: the Braves and their fans would probably rather have Nick Swisher, but Melky may translate well to the NL, and Nate McLouth — despite his gold glove — could slide over to left field where he probably belongs. For the Yankees, Vazquez would help fill out a rotation that currently looks light once you get beyond Sabathia and Burnett. Pettitte is going to crater one of these days. I’ve never bought the notion that the Yankees would put both Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes in the rotation. Chad Gaudin and Sergio Mitre are not exactly championship starters.
The big question: did the Yankees buy-high on Vazquez? He’s coming off his best season and given his strikeout rate, there’s good reason to believe that he’ll be highly effective in 2010. But he does give up a lot of dingers, and that will only get worse in the bandbox that is New Yankee Stadium.
Ultimately, however, Melky Cabrera is eminently replaceable, and Vazquez solidifies the rotation, which was one of Brian Cashman’s top priorities, so it’s a good deal for New York, even if the talk radio freaks will be complaining about his performance in 2004 all day.
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- lar @ wezen-ball - Dec 22, 2009 at 9:12 AM
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Man, it must be the week of Christmas if we’re spending a whole day camped out in the snow waiting for the Yankees to send some white smoke up the chimney, signifying that they’ve finally completed a deal for the dude who might be competing for the #6 spot in the rotation…
Can we spice up the thread a little bit, Craig? Maybe start throwing out some rumors about a certain 7-time MVP was caught checking out the size of his heart in the mountains over Whoville… or talk about how Johnny Damon and Jason Bay have decided to run-away from the northeast and “be independent together”… or wonder what will happen in Minnesota when that old silk cap they found falls off of Joe Mauer’s head…
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- Craig Calcaterra - Dec 22, 2009 at 9:14 AM
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Don’t worry, lar. I’m going to start a political flame war with my 9:40 AM post. Excitement soon!
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- Ari Collins - Dec 22, 2009 at 9:17 AM
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Hey, since not enough people comment on this blog, lemme just let you know that Someone Out There thinks it’s fantastic. I pretty much read Fangraphs and here for analysis and entertainment.
Also, if the Yankees get Javier Vazquez back without giving much up I will be upset. The Yankees are doing just fine, there’s no need for teams to gift them players (c.f. the Granderson deal).
Also also, lol @lar.
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- DiamondDuq - Dec 22, 2009 at 9:24 AM
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Josh Johnson was the most intriguing name thus far but that seems like it was more of an off the cuff, dangle the carrot type of suggestion. Vasquez would be an adequate number 4 but why not do something that will pay dividends down the road? You know the Marlins develop young pitchers remarkably well (Beckett, Burnett, Penny, Pavano, Willis), I just don’t think they’ll cut Johnson loose before they absolutely have to pay him or trade him, which is not this year.
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- lar @ wezen-ball - Dec 22, 2009 at 9:35 AM
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Fun times, Craig. So you really are looking for something to keep you entertained during this less-than-active week, huh? Might I suggest some Seaquest, available for on-demand viewing at Netflix?
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- Markfd - Dec 22, 2009 at 9:37 AM
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If we are trading for Vasquez it better not include Swisher!
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- YankeesfanLen - Dec 22, 2009 at 9:45 AM
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I assume you’re going to edit the headline before people think you’ve twittered your brain.
How about Joba, Cervelli, Gardner to KC for Greinke?
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- John_Michael - Dec 22, 2009 at 9:49 AM
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Robinson Cano weeps in the corner. Everyone else is cheering.
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- Holla(r) - Dec 22, 2009 at 9:50 AM
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So wait, the Yanks are looking to trade a fourth outfielder and someone who I’m pretty sure doesn’t actually exist for a pitcher who was CY-worthy this past year? Are the Braves really that hard up money-wise?
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- Ari Collins - Dec 22, 2009 at 9:50 AM
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One of the best pitchers in the NL (granted, on a one-year deal) for Melky Cabrera and Mike Dunn? Yeah, I’m upset.
Unless the prospect is at least a second-tier prospect. But the Yankees having to give up fair value seems like too much to ask.
Reminds me of how in every trade rumor discussion someone thinks the Yankees are levied a tax in trades to make them give up more than any other team would. Then again, complaining that Someone Is Wrong on the Internet is a bit redundant.
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- YankeesfanLen - Dec 22, 2009 at 9:54 AM
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Johnny, keep your cell phone on and screen out Scott’s call, wait for Cash.
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- ecp - Dec 22, 2009 at 10:14 AM
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C’mon now, Craig, it’s the Braves! It’s your team; you are allowed to add some acerbic commentary! How do you REALLY feel about this?
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- ecp - Dec 22, 2009 at 10:21 AM
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Ah, yes, Len, dreaming about Greinke. Hold those dreams until at least the trade deadline in 2011, which is the soonest you might see him available.
And yeah, Dayton Moore may do some dumb things, but trading Greinke for a relief pitcher, a backup catcher, and a fourth outfielder would get him lynched.
(Now, let’s watch the fun that ensues after calling Chamberlain a relief pitcher…)
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- hop - Dec 22, 2009 at 10:31 AM
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Terrible move, Vaz has already proven he can’t handle the pressure of playoff baseball and at least if this was Melky for him straight up i might be a little happier but we just gave up our top lefty prospect in Dunn who we need now that we shipped Coke off to detriot. terrible move
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- Craig Heath - Dec 22, 2009 at 10:31 AM
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I would like to invite Frank Wren to burn in hell for this trade.
Cabrera is not as good as McClouth, Diaz, or Heyward. We actually released two players this offseason with OPS better than him.
You have a better than solid starting pitcher on your hands and the best you can come up with is a marginal outfielder. Kelly Johnson is better than Cabrera, for God’s sake.
I will now go throw up in my Cheerios.
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- John_Michael - Dec 22, 2009 at 10:31 AM
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NYC sports talk radio: “C’mon! Getting Vazquez is a complete no-brainah for da Yanks.”
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- John Pileggi - Dec 22, 2009 at 10:33 AM
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Is the Melky trade in any way a sign Yanks will get into Bay or Holliday sweepstakes? Bay clearly views Mets as last resort, and Boras is having trouble getting huge money for Holliday. Or, is Damon perhaps still a possibility? Johnson is the DH/back-up 1B. I seem to recall he played a bit of outfield early in his career, but does not seem like a Left Field solution for Yankees. Cashman always seems to pull a surprise.
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- scott - Dec 22, 2009 at 10:38 AM
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who is playing left field now?
brett- i cant hit a homerun if a was standing on second” gardner?
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- Joey B - Dec 22, 2009 at 10:40 AM
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“So wait, the Yanks are looking to trade a fourth outfielder and someone who I’m pretty sure doesn’t actually exist for a pitcher who was CY-worthy this past year? Are the Braves really that hard up money-wise?”
They had 6 SPs. They weren’t going to move Jurriens, Hanson, or Hudson. Ideally, they’d like have moved Lowe, but based on last season, they’d have to eat half of his contract. While Vazquez is certainly better than Lowe, it might make more sense to move someone in demand, while selling high, than to try to force someone to take owe, while selling low.
At the end of the day, the market for teams looking to spend $11.5M is really limited. I’d be curious to have someone in the press ask Cashman whether it’s Joba or Hughes that is being relegated to setup duties.
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- Craig Calcaterra - Dec 22, 2009 at 10:42 AM
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I have a take up from the Braves persepctive:
http://bases.nbcsports.com/2009/12/relax-braves-fans-this-deal-is-not-so-bad.html.php
Maybe I’m in denial. You tell me.
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- Jimmy - Dec 22, 2009 at 10:44 AM
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Sort of a creepy move for any Yankee fan who remembers Vazquez’s stellar 2004 campaign. One can hope that the older, wiser version can handle pitching in NY this time. Sad to see Melky go even if he was never going to be a top of the line outfielder.
Also troubling are some of these Cashman moves, even if they look good on paper. Team chemistry seems awfully hard to get right (it took the Yankees nearly a decade to get right again) and here they are letting Damon and Matsui go, trading Melky, talking about trading Swisher. I understand you have to make some moves but don’t go overboard on what got you there.
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- Craig Heath - Dec 22, 2009 at 10:44 AM
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@Joey B…
I agree with everything you said EXCEPT that the Braves didn’t sell like they were selling high. They sold like they were desperate.
I hate this trade. Unless it turns out that another potential trade partner wants something we just got from the Yankees.
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- Jimmy - Dec 22, 2009 at 10:47 AM
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Sort of a creepy move for any Yankee fan who remembers Vazquez’s stellar 2004 campaign. One can hope that the older, wiser version can handle pitching in NY this time. Sad to see Melky go even if he was never going to be a top of the line outfielder.
Also troubling are some of these Cashman moves, even if they look good on paper. Team chemistry seems awfully hard to get right (it took the Yankees nearly a decade to get right again) and here they are letting Damon and Matsui go, trading Melky, talking about trading Swisher. I understand you have to make some moves but don’t go overboard on what got you there.
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- Answer me this? - Dec 22, 2009 at 10:50 AM
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What did Javier do so bad in 2004? He only pitched in relief, game 3 I think, and got the win.
He started that season loke 10 and 2 or something and was an all-star then something happened, I think he was hurt…..
Bring this #2 quality start guy back as the #4, I’ll take it…..
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- Geek - Dec 22, 2009 at 11:35 AM
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Sounds like a solid deal. I am surprised that I easily rationalized the loss of Melky but can see the baseball and business sense.
IF Damon and his agent can swallow some pride and put a reasonable offer on the table, he could be back with the Yankee’s.
