In December 2009 the Yankees pulled off one of their biggest moves of the offseason when they acquired RHP Javier Vazquez and LHP Boone Logan from the Atlanta Braves. In exchange, they sent Atlanta CF Melky Cabrera, LHP Mike Dunn, prospect RHP Arodys Vizcaino and $500,000 in cash. Vazquez has gotten off to a very poor start in 2010, causing some to wonder whether he’s injured or simply out of whack mechanically. But how have the pieces the Yankees sent to the Braves fared?
Melky Cabrera has played almost every game for the Braves this year, manning the LF corner. Melky has underperformed, combining with Nate McLouth to form an offensive black hole in the outfield. Cabrera’s tripleslash line is an anemic .197/.287/.221. In 88 plate appearances, he’s walked a grand total of 10 times, struck out 12 times, hit 13 singles, 2 doubles and 0 HR. Just for fun, I’ll also note that he has posted a -0.2 in UZR on the year. Yes, I know, small sample size.
Mike Dunn has spent the year in AAA Gwinett and has impressed in a short stint. In 10.1 IP he has struck out 13, walked 3 and let in 1 ER, which leaves him with a sparkling 0.87 ERA and a 11.3 K/9 and a 4.33 K/BB ratio. The Braves already have two lefties in the major league pen in O’Flaherty and Venters, not to mention closer Billy Wagner, so Dunn will have to keep pitching well and wait for Venters to pitch his way out of a job before he gets his crack at the big leagues in 2010.
Finally, RHP Arodys Vizcaino has posted decent numbers in his first five outings in the South Atlantic League (A) for the Rome Braves. In five outings, Vizcaino has thrown 25 IP, giving up 22 hits, 12 ER, 7 BBs and striking out 27. His best outing was yesterday, when he struck out 8 batters over 5, giving up 1 ER and walking none. He’s clearly a blue-chip prospect, and he’s sporting a superb K/BB ratio of nearly 4:1 as a 19 year old in A Ball.
All things considered, I’m still happy the Yankees traded for Javier Vazquez and Boone Logan. I’m optimistic Vazquez will be able to sort out his mechanical and/or physical issues and become a solid starter for the club this year. The Yankees will also have the option to offer Vazquez arbitration at the end of the year and recoup a draft pick if he declines and signs elsewhere. Additionally, Boone Logan is opening some eyes in short stints out of the major league pen, and easily replaces LHP Mike Dunn. However, my eye will be on Vizcaino all year. Even if Vazquez turns it around, Vizcaino is the lone prospect with the ability to make Yankees fans wince every time he takes the mound.
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5 Responses to The Other Side of the Vazquez Deal
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TIQ IQ
The Yankees gave up quite a bit of young talent last winter in a bid to acquire the veteran pieces that would bring them their second consecutive Series appearance. I can’t argue with this approach at all. I never thought that Melky was anything but an ordinary 4th outfielder. And he has lost his personal supports (Cano, Arod, etc.) So, it will be some time before he reverts to his .270, 15 HR full season stat level. I do hope he does well, eventually though, on a personal level. The pitching that we gave up this winter, plus AJ, could haunt fans for years to come, though. A 28th would soften this hurt.
On Vasquez, he should now be considered the 5th starter, with Hughes emergence at long last. What we need out of the 5th starter is not really all that much, considering the quality of the rest of the team. To make the playoffs we do not need Vasquez to produce last yr’s Atlanta stats, or the stats of his 2 or 3 other best seasons. I would be happy with his performance typical of his other 5 or 6 seasons–which is a slightly sub .500 pitcher with a ERA of 5.00 to 6.00. If he performs at this level the rest of the year, everything would be great, and Yankee fans should learn to relax and see the big picture (fat chance). What we can’t accept though, is a Vasquez, pitching at a 9.00 to 10.00 ERA, with a 2.00+ WHIP, and being a 3 to 5 inning pitcher, if we want to take the Divisional title, and home field advantage. The Rays appear to be a very strong team this year, with a young, hungry, starting pitching staff being capable of delivering the WS Championship. If we want to run with this Rays team all year thru October, we will need a Vasquez better than he has shown thus far this year. Or the Yanks will need to make a change soon (2 or 3 more starts at most). It’s as simple as that.
Agree w much of what you say, however, the bugaboo is that Phil phranchise has never pitched more than 120ish innings to my knowledge. Therefore, the yanks are going to want to leave him in the 5 hole to limit his count.
I was publicly against this deal from day one, but I like the objective take on this article. This is exactly the type of info you can get from a good blog that you will never see in the ms media. Melky is as mercurial as ever. In retrospect, with robbie’s breakout, he is possibly addition by subtraction. I wonder if cash wanted him gone as much to subtract his bad influence from robbie (a la Billy Martin) as his actual value as a chip.
Why thank you, sir.
Very well put Stephen R….
The trades bothered me because of two of the players involved in it. One was A-Jaxs the other is Viscaino but, I guess it will take a few years to find out if it was worth it or not. Realistically speaking, that is one of the things the minors are for…trade bait.
I wasn’t against the trade but, it did bother me somewhat.