Well, rumors last night that the Yankees were going to acquire a starting pitcher via trade kept me up until about 2 AM, hoping news would be broken. I woke up at 7 and still there was no news. After hours of watching the worst possible TV in the history of the world (Regis & Kelly and The Stepford Wives), it was finally reported that the Yankees had acquired Javy Vazquez.
SERIOUSLY? After all that waiting the Yankees acquired a guy they traded 5 years ago? This was a big let down. But then, as everyone should do when there is a trade, I actually sat down and thought about it, instead of simply thinking of game 7 of the 2004 ALCS and you know what, this is a very good deal.
In the official deal, the Yankees acquire Javier Vazquez and Boone Logan and the Braves get Melky Cabrera, Mike Dunn and Arodys Vizcaino.
First off, lets talk about what they gave up. Melky, Dunn and a 19 year old. Vizcaino projects to be something good, but at 19 years old, anything can happen. Dunn also projects to be something decent, but he is a converted position player and people within the Yankees organization believe his control problems are something he may never conquer. As for Melky, well, long-time readers of this blog know how I feel about him, he will not be missed.
As for Javier Vazquez, he was the Yankees #1 starter in 2004 and had a very strong 3.56 ERA in the first half. While it wasn't widely reported at the time, he dealt with a sore shoulder in the second half which led to a ERA in the 2nd half of 6.92.
Vazquez had the best year of his career in 2009, going 15-10 with a 2.87 ERA, finished 4th in CY Young Voting and 2nd in the league in strikeouts with 238. While I don't expect him to perform this well, especially with a 4.19 career ERA, Vazquez, whether you have bad memories of him or not, is a very strong #3 or #4 starter. Name me one #3 or 4 who is better than him? There aren't many. On top of this, Vazquez provides lots of durability. Every year since 2000 Vazquez has thrown at least 198 innings and made at least 32 starts. He is only 3 games over .500 for his career, but that has a lot to do with spending the first six seasons of his career with the Montreal Expos, not to mention some time with the Diamondbacks and White Sox.
Adding to the long list of positives for Vazquez, this makes a battle for the #5 spot between Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes. No matter who gets the 5th spot (I think Joba will be the 5th starter), this gives the Yankees a very strong set-up man, thus improving the bullpen. Finally, Vazquez is making $11.5 mil this year, but he only has one year left on his contract, giving the Yankees financial flexibility. Obviously there is a year to go, but he projects as a Type A free agent and is sure to net the Yankees two draft picks.
Boone Logan was in the deal also, and yes, he held lefties to a .226 BA last year, but I doubt he gets much playing time, but bullpen depth is always nice. This makes Brett Gardner our starting LF, but I would bet you anything the Yankees acquire someone. They have about $5-6 mil left to work with (which just so happens to be Mark Derosa's asking price, hmm....) and that would push Gardner to our 4th outfield spot, and he would be a great late game defensive replacement for DeRosa. Also, on days Jeter and A-Rod need a rest, DeRosa can move there and the offensive loss wont be huge. Add the fact that he is ANOTHER great clubhouse guy and has recently said he wants to play for the Yankees and this seems like a great fit. He is not a great defender in the OF and is a bit overrated, but at $4-6 mil on a one or two year deal, he will be another potentially solid addition to the team.
So overall the Yankees acquire a guy who can was a #1 for his team last year, is a #2 on most teams but will only have to be their #3. They get him for only one year at a relatively affordable price and may also get two draft picks out of it, all while giving up a few guys who at this point, you probably only remember two of their names, possibly only one. Melky wont be missed. Dunn wont be missed and neither will that other guy. Another great move for Brian Cashman to show us all that he is truly running the show right now (it was 100% Randy Levine who traded Vazquez after 2004, Vazquez and Cashman both wanted him to stay), and I wouldn't want it any other way
So tell me what you guys think. Do you like the deal? I know Uncle Johnny doesnt! How come you guys dont like it? If you do, what do you like about it? Also, will Gardner be the opening day LF or will be it a guy like DeRosa, Jermaine Dye or even Erik Hinske? As always, let me know what you guys think
Update:
According to Joel Sherman, now that the Yankees have Vazquez, they will look to trade either Sergio Mitre or Chad Gaudin. Mitre will earn about $1.5 mil next year and has no trade value while Gaudin will be making about $3 mil, but could net a decent B prospest in return. Who should they trade? Should they simply dump Mitre's salary and save some money and keep the good pitcher around, or should they trade Gaudin, free up more money and get a prospect, but lose some pitching depth in the process?
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Mike, the value of Melky to the Yankees is something we will never agree on, but I am absolutely disgusted by this deal. Melky, who gave a us a defensive worth in the OF with his arm and range, also contributed a level of enthusiasm that was void on this team since 2000. Let's not forget the kid's ability to hit in big spots, either.
ReplyDelete-Bosko
I just do not understand why we deal him for a guy that already failed miserably in New York. His numbers in the NL are mediocre at best, and he got pounded with the Yankees in 2004. There is a reason this guy has been traded 5 times in his career. Underachiever, and in my opinion, will be a horrible letdown in 2010.
Just as they did earlier in this decade, the Yankees front office seems to be going back to sacrificing chemistry and what works for disillusioned talent.
thank you for the comment Bosko, youre a good man. i dont think that Vazquez is going to set the world on fire, but while in NY the first time around, he was our #1 and he was pitching with a sore shoulder for half of the year. this time around, the expectations and circumstances will be much different.
ReplyDeletealso, "chemistry" is one of the most overrated things in baseball. put the 25 best players in baseball on the same team, all with no personality and huge ego's, and i am sure winning every single day will make the team chemistry perfectly fine. winning creates chemistry, chemistry doesnt create winning. and for all the enthusiasm we lost with Melky, i am sure Granderson will make up for that. i love melky's love for the game and his enthusiasm, but that doesnt make up for a .331 career on base %
maybe part of me is happy that melky is gone that i am over looking how much Javier has underperformed, but if we get 14-16 wins with an era of 4.00 from our #3/4, I will be happy.
but in the end, this is a great move for argument simply because both sides have such a strong case and anything that can start some baseball discussion is always good in book.
thanks for the comment!
Dear Mike,
ReplyDeleteGreat Blog as always, but you should not have waited all night long and should have gotten lots of sleep like I did. I like them acquiring him, but feel as if this could have been done partly because of what the Red Sox did when they acquired John Lackey. Like you I think if you were going to trade away Melky, trade him now and get the most you can for him. It is a good pick up for the Yankees as now they don't have depend on both Hughes and Joba to start
The Yankees needed a pitcher, everybody agreed on that. The Free Agent market was weak. Jon Garland, Doug Davis, Jarrod Washburn? Who wants those guys? The best option available was Ben Sheets, but apparently the Yankees didnt like his medical records. Giving up Melky for Vazquez was the best option and the Yankees did the right thing.
ReplyDeleteI don't think this was a direct response to Lackey. The Yankees have been saying since day one that they wanted a starter and would have got one either way. If the Red Sox didnt get Lackey, maybe they would not have gotten a starter of Vazquez's quality, but like I said before, given the other options, what was there really to do? Since Sheet's tests dont check out, only Duchschere would have been a suitable addition other than Vazquez or some other random trade, the FA market was simply very weak.
By the way everybody, MELKY IS NOT THAT GOOD!!!
Mikey you almost had me liking this deal, however, I just can't be entirely sold on trading away the Melkman. Yes, I like guys with nicknames, especially, nicknames that involve a pun relatred to one of my favorite dairy products, but I really liked the kid. Clutch hitting, outstanding defensive plays, and a fun personality...that is good for a team like the Yankees. Yes, we needed a starter, but he (Vasquez) has already failed in NY and that means a lot. Pychologically, his less than stellar performance in the Bronx will be in his head and I am afraid he will choke. I hope I am wrong, but I was truly hoping to keep Melky. Inevitably, though, he was bound to g; I just wish it could have been for someone like Washburn who I feel could have found success in NY. Plus, what are the Yanks going to do without a Spanish speaker? Oh ya, we have like 12 more in the clubhouse...Bye bye to the Melkman...See you in Atlanta.
ReplyDeleteJohnny Vegas
Yes, Javier vazquez "failed" in NY, but he was our #1 starter and he got 14 wins. now that he is our #4 starter, who wouldn't take 14 wins from their 4th starter? No team gets that. Not to mention when he was here, he was pitching injured for the final 3 months of the year.
ReplyDeleteI would potentially be worried about his psyche of coming back to NY since so many people think he failed there, but he never wanted to leave in the first place and cash never wanted to let him go. He even tried to reaquire him two more times in the future. Part of the last contract that Vazquez signed gave him a no-trade clause to any twelve teams that he wanted. If Vazquez didn't want to come back to NY, he simply could have placed NY at the list, but clearly it is not much of a concern to him so I think he should be ok.
As for something more for Melky, I don't know how much more we could have got. Even the Braves, who just made Melky the centeripiece of a deal for their 2009 ace wont be using Melky as a starter this year. To put it simply, Melky is not that good and statistically, he was never a great fielder. Melky is OK at everything, except for his arm, he is average-below average at everything.
As for Washburn, not only is he two years older, he is a free agent who would have cost us at least two years, probably three, would not net draft picks when he left and also has a history of injury, having made more than 30 starts in a season only twice since 2003. Vazquez, whether people like this trade or not, stays healthy and pitches effectively.
People are putting too much stock in Melky and 2004.
Everyone who is against this trade, do me a favor.
1st off, pretend Melky Cabrera's name is Curt Flood, who, according to baseball-reference.com is the most comparable player to Melky Cabrera through their age 24 season.
The second thing I want you to do is simply pretend that Javier Vazquez's 2004 season was with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
When Melky is simply looked at by his stats, and not the intangable stuff such as acting silly and being happy, he isn't that special, just ask Curt Flood's mother. And with Vazquez, things become a little easier to deal with when theyre not done to you.
This is a good trade everybody. If anybody can name me two teams with a better number four, i will admit defeat.
Not to mention, 30 AL outfielders, THIRTY, had a better OPS last year than Melky.
Well Mikey at least you have things stirred up. In the end I think I have to agree with you. I am actually glad to see Melky go. I don't think I can ever lose the image several years ago when they brought him up too early and he looked lost. That wasn't his fault but I can't lose the image. You have to admit he has provided some moments so I will always be happy about that. I think at worst we get a .500 or better guy who will chew up innings and we also give a boost to the bullpen. I assume with Hughes but prefer Joba getting ready for the eventual retirement of the greatest reliever ever to save a game. Sorry cuz but I have to go with MikeyJoy on this one.
ReplyDeletePOPPA D