Javier Vazquez back to the Yankees – My thoughts on it
So I read at the NY Daily News that Javier Vazquez is back in a Yankee uniform. I’m not sure if it makes the Yankees stronger. He didn’t have a great first go round with the Yankees so I’m not sure how he’s all of a sudden going to be better.
The New York Yankees will acquire the righthanded pitcher from the Braves along with lefthanded reliever Boone Logan, sending Melky Cabrera, lefthander Mike Dunn and righthander Arodys Vizcaino to the Braves.
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, who has reached double-digit wins for 10 straight seasons, also has struck out 200 batters in a season five times in his career, including each of the past three seasons.
That doesn’t mean much to me. If I remember correctly, he didn’t pitch well in the clutch in a Yankees’ uniform. Now who’s going to play left-field? Is Scott Boras feeling better about this trade? I bet he is. Maybe we’ll see Johnny Damon back in pinstripes which is a good thing.
The Yankees gave up Melky, Mike Dunn and Arodys Vizcaino. I know that Arodys Vizcaino was ranked pretty high in the Yankees’ farm system.
I like Melky arm and defense and I like the potential of Arodys but Yankee prospects haven’t always worked out in the past so I’m giving Cashman the benefit of the doubt here.
Joba will most likely be back in the pen which I do like because I feel he’s better in the pen than being a starter and one injury to Mariano Rivera and he’s the man, in my view.
Maybe this is a desperation move because the Red Sox signed Lackey.
Here’s the question: Does the Vazquez trade make the Yankees’ rotation worse or better in 2010?
Tags: hot stove, javier vazquez, javier vazquez back to the yankees - my thoughts on it, melky cabrera, new york yankees, trade, Yankees, yankees trade, yankeesdaily
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December 22nd, 2009 at 2:00 PM
It makes them better. Vazquez has always been a better pitcher than the numbers indicated. Also the fact is he;s older now and can better handle the NY pressure can mean alot. in 2004 he was great in the first half with a 3.30′s ERA pre-all star game. He collapsed down the stretch but that’s in the past. Also trading away melky isn;t as bad since he’s hit his ceiling in 2008. We already have a platoon of OF and this would mean either gardner gets to play CF who;s defense has been superb, or we resign damon to make our offense even better and have granderson play CF. either way the yanks get better now. I’m only worried about the prospects given up, however at worst this deal won;t hurt the yanks for a while, not at least until the prospects make it to the MLB.
December 22nd, 2009 at 3:06 PM
Well said DT. This is a great move. I love Brian Cashman. Melky was definitely expendable. Especially since he is no longer a cheap player to have. Our rotation is now set with 3 durable pitchers in CC, Pettitte, and Vazquez. Burnett has demonstrated that he can perform in NY and not get injured. We have a lot of flexibility in our 5th spot with Hughes, Joba, Gaudin, Mitre as candidates. And our offense is monstruous, even if we don’t sign a left fielder. Now if we sign Damon, I can see us scoring more than 1,000 runs without any problems. The baseball world is shaking as Opening Day approaches. The Yankees will be back, and they will be better than ever.
December 22nd, 2009 at 4:25 PM
You guys are starting to make me feel better about the move. I really do hope that Vazquez has gained more experience and can perform under the New York pressure. I have a feeling that you’re right DT, Melky was never going to be a star. He is as good as he’s going to get. I still liked his defense though even though he did make some mistakes. Arodys has a quick release which makes it easier for his fastball to sneak up on batters.
Cashman has been making a lot of moves, UK. I’d like to see Hughes start over Joba since Joba’s jerking motion supposedly gets him injured faster. We know what we have in Pettitte and CC and some what Vazquez. Burnett did pitch very well in the game two against the Phillies and that’s you hope for, the pitcher you paid to help you win the World Series. Burnett did that.
I won’t forget Melky getting clutch hits. He did his job. Yankees won a world series with him in center field.
Here’s what stinks though and “could” happen. Vazquez stinks it up and Johnson on the DL most of the year. There are always downsides to ever deal.
I’m giving Cashman the benefit of the doubt since he is a World Series winner.
December 22nd, 2009 at 7:45 PM
wtf happened to yankeesdaily girl of the day?
December 22nd, 2009 at 10:17 PM
I got some feed back that some Yankee fans didn’t like YankeesDaily Girl of the Day.
December 23rd, 2009 at 6:31 AM
Was it your friend “Gay Guru”? Because if it was, don’t listen to him. I am in favor of you continuing to post them.
December 23rd, 2009 at 10:54 AM
Ok, I’ll go back to posting them. I’ll do one tomorrow since I didn’t do one today. It takes time to find the right girl so I’ll have to post it tomorrow.
December 23rd, 2009 at 1:45 PM
I saw Vasquez several times last year and was really impressed. He used to give up runs when things started to go against him but he last year he kept his cool and held down his ERA.
It was obvious that the Yankees needed a starter – they were forced to go with only 3 during the playoffs. So you have to look at what the alternatives were on the market. Considering the limited financial commitment involved it looks like the best possible deal for the Yankees.
December 24th, 2009 at 12:37 PM
I hope you are right Jeff. Every Yankee fans hopes you are right. We only had three starters and only two of them were really reliable in the playoffs even though Burnett pitched well his last game.