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What Does This Mean For Joba and Hughes?

Posted by Moshe Mandel at 5:02 pm 18 Responses »
Dec 222009

From Keith Law:

For the Yankees, adding Vazquez means either Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes will start the season in the bullpen. It probably also signals that the Yankees feel one of them belongs there, most likely Hughes at this point. If the organization believed that both pitchers eventually would work out as starters in the majors, it would be more willing to give both rotation spots and back them up with a lesser option than Vazquez, who was, as you might have heard, the second-best pitcher in the National League this past season.

I do not agree with Keith’s take here, due to the following points:

  • The Yankees did not hold these guys back in Halladay and Lee trades to keep them in the bullpen long term. 
  • They did not go out and add someone with a long deal who would crowd the rotation into the future. Rather, they brought in a workhorse with one year remaining on his contract. 
  • It is certainly possible that Andy Pettitte will retire after 2010, meaning the club may have two rotation spots open in 2011.

All of this tells me one thing: Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes are still starters in the eyes of the organization. Joba, in particular, is finally free of innings limits, and I find it hard to believe that they will reach that point and then stick him in the bullpen. Regarding the Yankees’ other young hurler, Phil Hughes is just 23. Another season of 100-120 IP is not going to kill him or make him an untenable starting option in the future. It is significantly more plausible to fathom that Brian Cashman felt it unlikely that his top 3 starters would stay healthy for a second full season and decided that he needed someone that he could count on for 200 innings to bolster the rotation for 2010.  Importing too much meaning into a move for a player on a one year deal is silly.

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Was Vazquez Lucky in 2009? Or Just Better?

Posted by Eric Schultz at 2:12 pm 19 Responses »
Dec 222009

In case you have been under a rock for the last 12 hours, the Yankees have reacquired RHP Javier Vazquez and LHP Boone Logan from the Braves for OF Melky Cabrera, LHP Michael Dunn, and RHP Arodys Vizcaino.  Yankee fans probably remember Vazquez best for his shaky 2004 season, which saw him get off to a strong first half start (even making the All Star team) and struggle mightily in the 2nd half of the season, including the playoffs (giving up an infamous grand slam to Johnny Damon).  Based on his 2004 season, the criticism of Vazquez was that he was not mentally tough enough to handle playing in New York, and people who believe that to be the case will likely be outraged at this acquisition.

For those who weren’t following the NL closely this season, Vazquez was one of the top 5 pitchers in the National League, going 15-10 with a 2.87 ERA.  In 219 1/3 innings, he had 238 strikeouts against only 44 walks, with a 1.03 WHIP and a career-low 20 home runs allowed.  It was a potential Cy Young caliber season, and he finished 4th in the voting (behind Tim Lincecum, Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright).  It was a career year for Vazquez, even better than his superb 2003 with Montreal that caused the Yankees to trade for him the first time around.  While Vazquez’s ERA is likely to rise moving to the AL and Yankee stadium, I’m going to look at his stats to see if he is likely to be a better pitcher than the 4.91 ERA that he put up in 2004.  Was 2004 the norm, or an exception to an otherwise impressive career?  Or was 2009 a fluke?  To Fangraphs, we go.  Analysis after the jump. Continue reading »

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Yankees Acquire Javy Vazquez for Melky, Dunn, Vizcaino

Posted by EJ Fagan at 10:46 am 33 Responses »
Dec 222009

MLBTR reports that the Yankees will acquire Javy Vazquez for Melky Cabrera, Michael Dunn, and Arodys Vizcaino. They will pay the entirety of Vazquez’s 11.5 million dollar salary.

I’m at work, so this will have to be pretty brief.

Melky leaving clears the way for some kind of left field situation involving Brett Gardner. Dunn being traded pretty much commits the Yankees to only having one lefty out of the bullpen. Arodys Vizcaino is a very good prospect, but also an entirely expendable one.

Overall, its a great trade for the Yankees. Vazquez was an ace last year, and will be at the least very healthy. He was 4th in the majors in strikeouts last year (his 3rd straight year with at least 200 Ks), and has a lot of experience working in the NL. While new Yankee Stadium won’t be kind to his homer-happy ways, I think that we can expect a much better go-around this time with Vazquez.

And the Yankees could easily have their young players replaced in the draft next year. If he has a decent year, he’s a pretty good pick to be offered and decline arbitration. Two draft picks could come the Yankees way, which should be able to find someone of Vizcaino’s caliber.

The Yankee pitching staff looks pretty set. Now, will they stand pat at left field? I feel like a Johnny Damon reconciliation is coming. However, if the Yankees are indeed on a budget, how much more is Hal Steinbrenner willing to give Cashman? RAB has our payroll at 208 million now.

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Yankees Close To Landing Starter?

Posted by Moshe Mandel at 5:07 am 21 Responses »
Dec 222009

In a bit of a surprise considering the number of options available on the free agent market, the Yankees are apparently moving in on acquiring a starting pitcher via trade. Buster Olney first reported it, Ken Rosenthal confirmed that a trade was in the works, and Mark Feinsand noted that it was nearing completion, but nobody knows who the trade is for or even which club is involved. Here are some of the interesting names that have been thrown about by fans (most at RAB), with Aaron Harang and Carlos Zambrano having been ruled out:

Ted Lilly
Derek Lowe
Javier Vazquez
Roy Oswalt
Brian Bannister
Josh Johnson
Jonathan Sanchez
Gil Meche
Ricky Nolasco
Wandy Rodriguez
Matt Cain
Zach Duke
Chad Billingsley

Who do you think it is?

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