So far in 2010, it's pretty safe to say that Javier Vazquez stinks for the Yankees.
He hasn't just been bad. He's been horrific—so horrific that every time he departs from Yankee Stadium, he gets by far the loudest boos of the team.
In his first five starts back with the team, he is 1-3 with a 9.78 ERA.
His longest outing thus far has been 5.2 innings. His innings totals aren't that high, but his hits, runs, walks, and ERA are extremely high.
Clearly, this is not the same pitcher from 2009 who won 15 games for the Braves and had a 2.87 ERA—not even close.
Right now, it is looking like Vazquez's results from a year ago may have in fact been a product of the National League, which is slightly easier to pitch in.
John Harper from the New York Daily News made a very bold suggestion, which makes a lot of sense for both teams.
The Yankees trade Vazquez to the Mets.
The Yankees would be shedding Vazquez from their rotation, along with the $11.5 million he is due.
The Mets would get a pitcher that is better equipped to pitch in the National League and another arm that can go behind Johan Santana and Mike Pelfrey, especially with John Maine and Oliver Perez not pitching well enough to be trusted.
I know a lot of people might think that would be a crazy trade to make, especially with it being only a month into the season, but Vazquez isn't getting any better.
His fastball has been reported to be a couple of miles slower than in 2009 (91 to 88), which could be from pitching so much over the last couple years and arm fatigue and be the reason for his bad starts.
Not only is Vazquez getting hit hard, he is also walking a lot of batters every game, including four in his last start against the White Sox on Saturday. Vazquez already has 15 walks on the season. In 2009, he only had 44.
Now, I will admit I was a major fan of the trade in the winter because we only traded away a fourth outfielder in Melky Cabrera, who is only hitting .213 in Atlanta. I thought as a fourth starter, Vazquez would dominate in this rotation with CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Andy Pettitte in front of him.
Instead, Phil Hughes is pitching better than Vazquez, as is Sergio Mitre, who might get the job if Vazquez gets bounced from the rotation.
Trading Vazquez to the Mets makes sense. Apparently Omar Minaya tried to get Javy over the winter, but he didn't have a pitching prospect for the Braves like the Yankees did.
Now, with the scene a little different, the Yankees may as well give away Javy to Omar.
The Mets need more pitching. The Yankees need Javy to change his address.
The Mets have also been rumored to be interested in Baltimore's Kevin Millwood and Houston's Roy Oswalt. Both players would require a decent package in return.
I doubt Vazquez would cost much for the Mets to get now.
Stay tuned to see if anything develops with this story or it gets swept under the rug.
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