Welcome back Javier!
Posted On Thursday, December 24, 2009 at at 4:03 AM by Francis Isberto
The Yankees earlier said that they are going to get somebody to boost their starting rotation. That somebody turned out to be former Yankee Javier Vazquez. The Yankees traded Melky Cabrera, left-handed pitching prospect Michael Dunn, and another prospect Arodys Vizcaino to Atlanta for starter Javier Vazquez and reliever Boone Logan.
Last year, the Yankees were walking in a tight rope by only using 3 starters (Sabathia, Burnett, and Pettitte) in the post-season. They got lucky as they won the World Series championship. This coming season the Yankees don't want to rely on pure luck. That's why they got Vazquez even at the expense of some good Yankee players.
Mixed emotions and reactions was experienced as the trade was announced. Some say that Vazquez can't handle the pressures in New York. Some say that Vazquez doesn't belong in the American league and he is much better off in the National league. Some say that Vazquez won't recover the disappointing loss to the Boston Red Sox in the 2004 ALCS where he gave up 2 homers to Johnny Damon including a grand slam in the pivotal game 7. Blah, blah and blah......
For me, this is a good trade for the Yankees. Here's why:
1.) SOLIDIFY THE ROTATION:
With Vazquez at the fold, the Yankees have a formidable starting rotation for 2010. The Yankees is right there with the Red Sox. The Red Sox will have a rotation of Beckett, Lester, Lackey, Dice-K, Buchholz, and/or Wakefield. While the Yankees counters with Sabathia, Burnett, Pettite, Vazquez, Joba, and/or Phil Hughes.
2.) A PRETTY DECENT PITCHER:
Vazquez might have a terrible season with the Yankees in 2004 but that is just one season. Remember that he suffered an arm injury in the 2nd half of that season.
But aside from that, Vazquez is a consistent pitcher. He has double digit wins for the past 10 seasons and has a decent career ERA of 4.19. Vazquez has ace tools, he has a nice repertoire of dominant fastball, good curve and an outstanding change-up. He can dominate as a strikeout guy, doesn't give up many walks, and is very durable.
Vazquez is a proven innings-eater, throwing 198 innings or more in each of the past 10 seasons, topping 200 in nine of those years. Vazquez has also struck out 200 batters five times in his career, including each of the past three seasons.
3.) INJURY FREE:
Being injury free was the reason why the Yankees choose Vazquez over pitchers like Ben Sheets and Justin Duchscherer. For the past 10 years, Vazquez has played and started more than 30+ games a year. That alone is an insurance for the Yankees. Not to mention that he had 198+ innings in the past 10 years.
4.) NOT MUCH AS A RISK:
Vazquez is set to earn $11.5 million for 2010 and will be a free agent at the end of that season. If everything works out well the Yankees might give Vazquez a contract extension. But if not the Yankees will let Vazquez go and will get 2 high draft picks in return because of Vazquez Type-A status. Plus they will have $ 11.5 million at their disposal to sign a pitcher like Cliff Lee.
5.) MELKY'S DEPARTURE COULD BRING A NEW OUTFIELDER:
The trade open a vacant spot in left field. Brett Gardner can fill that spot but the Yankees prefer to use him as a 4th outfielder for pinch running in late games. Which means the Yankees might be shopping for a new left fielder. They could bring back Johnny Damon or they can sign utility man Mark DeRosa. If that happens the Yankees will have a deeper line-up than last season.
6.) BOOSTING THE PEN:
Either Joba or Phil Hughes will go back to the bullpen. This will give the Yankees pen another reliable arm. Mariano Rivera needs help and a set-up guy like Joba or Phil Hughes will definitely be a good addition.
Those are the major factors why the trade will benefit the Yankees. Keep in mind that GM Brian Cashman didn't want to trade Vazquez in 2004 but was forced to because of the likings of the Yankees top executives. At the end of the 2004 season the Yankees traded Vazquez plus other players for Randy Johnson.
Interestingly, Cashman noted that the club tried to acquire Vazquez from Arizona after 2005 and the White Sox after 2008, but they just didn’t match up.
That fact indicates that Javier Vazquez is valuable to the Yankees.
