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).
That is a story for another day, however. What’s important here is the Yankees and their ability to add a pitcher that would be the ace or number two on most teams, but here slides in as the fourth starter.
He’s been durable, pitching at least 198 innings every season since 2000, as well as sporting a K/9 above 8.01 every season since 2005.
I’m sure people want to point to his failures pitching for the Yankees back in 2004, when he went 14-10 with a 4.91 ERA and 150 Ks. It was a down season, especially in the strikeout department, though thinking he can’t get it done in the AL or in New York would be a mistake.
Let’s not forget about his stint with the White Sox from 2006-2008 where he posted strikeout totals of 184, 213, and 200. Plus, his time in New York was limited, so I wouldn’t draw any certainties from it.
His key is going to be keeping opponents driving the ball into the ground. From 2003-2008 he had just one season posting a fly ball rate of under 40 percent, but last year saw the number fall to 34.8 percent. If he can maintain that the impact of the new Yankee Stadium may not be huge, but I wouldn’t hold out hope for that.
Left-handed hitters took him deep 14 times last season and considering the dimensions of Yankee Stadium, he could have problems.
All it means is that you are going to have a pitcher with an ERA probably right around 4.00 to go along with plenty of strikeouts and wins. Is anyone really going to complain about that? While he’s got to be downgraded a little bit, he’s still surely a pitcher that you want to own.
As for the haul the Braves got, it’s underwhelming for 2010. Cabrera brings little to the table, even if he is given regular at bats. He’s a short-term fill-in, at best, even in five outfielder formats. There’s just no real power or speed potential.
The bright spot is Vizcaino, though he is still a ways away from making an impact. He was ranked by Baseball America as the Yankees' third best prospect with a fastball that reaches 96 and a curveball that “is second only to A.J. Burnett’s in the organization.”
He is just 19 years old, however, though he posted a 2.13 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 42 innings last season. He’s a name to watch, but he’s not about to make an impact any time soon.
What are your thoughts on the deal? How do you see Vazquez performing in the new Yankee Stadium? Do you see any potential in what the Braves received?
Previous Fantasy Impacts of Recent Transactions:
- Hermida to Boston
- Teahen for Fields & Getz
- Iwamura to Pittsburgh
- Hardy for Gomez
- Shoppach to Tampa Bay
- Wagner to Atlanta
- Polanco, Scutaro, Fox & Zaun
- Granderson-Scherzer-Jackson Blockbuster
- Millwood, Harden, Wolf & More
- Figgins, Lowell & More
- Lackey to the Red Sox
- Matsui, Cameron & Pierre
- Halladay/Lee Blockbuster
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