Baseball

Two big trades went down a day ago and are on the verge of being official. The big deal involves the Yankees acquiring Javier Vazquez from the Braves for Melky Cabrera and two prospects. Before that deal went down, the Blue Jays and Mariners agreed to trade power throwing right-handers Brandon League and Brandon Morrow. What is the fantasy fallout of these two deals?

Vazquez to the Yankees

Who says you can’t go home again?

The Yankees brought back a player from their past yesterday, acquiring Javier Vazquez and Boone Logan in exchange for Melky Cabrera, Mike Dunn, and Arodys Vizcaino (as well as some cash).

While there’s some potential in the package Atlanta received, this deal clearly appears to be a move to improve the team’s financial flexibility, allowing them the flexibility to attempt to add a bat (which, rumor has it, will be Troy Glaus).

The Atlanta Braves needed a right-handed power bat and a first baseman. In one signing today, they accomplished both.

According to FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal, the Braves have signed Troy Glaus to a one-year contract.

Terms of this deal have not been disclosed yet, but it seems to be a very incentive-laden deal.

I really like this move by the Braves.

The offseason is always filled with numerous trades and free agent signings.

But with each deal that's made, players' fantasy stocks increase, some decrease, and others stay the same with their new team.

This offseason was no different.

In fact, more major moves happened this year than in recent years.

We all know about Seattle's signing of Chone Figgins. The three-team deal involving Curtis Granderson and of course the four-team megadeal that had Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee changing addresses.

When a friend told me this morning that Melky Cabrera had been traded, I was shocked.

It wasn't even a rumor. It just happened. Abruptly.

Despite Melky's inconsistency at the plate, he was a fan favorite in New York.
Teammates and fans enjoyed his jovial demeanor on a team generally regarded as rigid. It has always seemed like Melky plays for his love for baseball rather than for the money he earns.

Whether he was chasing down a deep fly ball, making his signature wide turn around first, or delivering in the clutch, Melky was a joy to watch every night.

For most Braves fans, this was not the deal that they were looking for. With a surplus at the pitching postition, Atlanta was poised to deal one of either Javier Vazquez or Derek Lowe.

With Derek Lowe's recent comments about being on the trading block, it left most Braves fans, including myself, with the thought he was surely the one to be traded. However, with three years and 45 million dollars due to Lowe, the Braves found that option rather difficult.

The 2009 starting rotation of the Colorado Rockies turned in the greatest performance of any rotation in the franchise's history. Several team records fell as the regular five hurlers took their turn and pitched very well time and time again.

Ubaldo Jimenez, Jason Marquis, Jorge De la Rosa, and Jason Hammel each started 30 or more games, and Aaron Cook got the ball 27 times. Each won 10 or more games—the only team in MLB that could make such a claim.

According to an ESPN.com report, the Philadelphia Phillies have expressed interest in signing free agent closer Fernando Rodney to a two-year contract at $12 million as a setup man and safety net to Brad Lidge.

Rodney, 32, converted on 37 saves in 38 opportunities last season with the Detroit Tigers while posing a 4.40 earned run average, the highest ERA among American League relievers with more than 20 save opportunities (Per ESPN).

Back in the days of Sega Genesis and VHS tapes, one of my favorite games was World Series Baseball . I remember it being one of the first sports games I ever played where you could trade players to different teams. Of course, I took the liberty of making the Red Sox look more like an All-Star roster.