Goodbye Melky, Hello Javy II

[MSBNYY]

Geez--I realize they needed a starter, and on paper, Vazquez had a good year, but what better way to illustrate the differences between the AL and NL than to look at Vazquez' numbers in both leagues.

The guy is a proven NY failure. The fewest number of innings he's pitched in the last 10 years? NY.

In the AL, he had just one year that didn't SUCK out of 5.

People might say he's a bottom of the rotation guy, but why go out and trade for a bottom of the rotation guy?

Ultimately, if this means they bring back Damon, I'm ok with it. But now they lose a switch hitter and very good fielder who hasn't even hit his prime yet. Is Melky an all star? No. But he impacted a lot of games last year for the better, with a great arm incredible hustle, and some timely hitting.

Javier Vazquez' biggest claim to fame was giving up a grand slam to Johnny Damon and burying the team in 2004.

I probably wouldn't be so annoyed if Vazquez wasn't such a failure here.

I DEFINITELY wouldn't be so annoyed if Swisher was the one traded.

Plus, we lose Mike Dunn, and thus have just one lefty reliever--Marte (who for some reason I confused with Felix Heredia).

Not thrilled.

[thecaptain15]

I am more broken up at losing Dunn then Melky....I have always prefered Gardner to Melky but I also wouldn't be surprised that this means we get Damon back at our price....

[thecaptain15]

I still would have signed Sheets for the $11.5m they are going to give Vasquez.....

[MSBNYY]

For me, I prefer Gardner to SWISHER, not Melky. I liked the defense when Gardner was in CF and Melky was in right. Melky isn't exactly irreplaceable, but he was a good player to have.

And yeah, losing Dunn bothers me too.

I've never been so annoyed at getting a guy who was FOURTH in the Cy Young vote. On paper, it's a great deal. But that whole being a miserable failure in the AL, and cracking under all Bronx pressure thing really sucks.

I hope there's a lefty in the minors that can step up in the pen because I don't believe in Marte.

The move hurts depth as well.

I just wonder if this paves the way for Holliday, Bay or Damon. I do NOT want Bay.

[MSBNYY]

Good point on Sheets. How long are we stuck with Vazquez now? I think I'm more annoyed that he's back than I am losing Melky.

[thecaptain15]

Balls as much as I hate Swisher to think Melky is better is ridiculous......Melky and Gardner are a push as they both bring different things to the table but for this team I just prefer what Gardner brings over Melky..That being said I expect another shoe to drop regarding the OF though Gardner batting 9th and playing everday would be OK with me though I doubt Cashman is on that same page....

[MSBNYY]

In a clutch situation, with the game on the line, I would much rather have Melky up there than Swisher. Swisher is less likely to get a hit, and more likely to strikeout.

Plus, Melky is lightyears better than Swisher defensively. So despite Swisher's extra pop and higher OBP, I would rather have Melky than Swisher. In a big situation, odds are a good pitcher will be on the mound, which would force Swisher to actually swing the bat. He's not as likely to do damage when he swings the bat. Kind of an all or nothing guy, with mostly nothing.

Give me the defensive player in the 9 spot, and I'm happier.

Gardner is a good replacement for Melky, minus the switch hitting, but I don't know how he holds up as an every day player.

I just don't want Bay.

[heartybooooo]

I love this move. I am a Vazquez fan. He needs to be the Yanks 3rd or 4th starter. He is a K machine who has improved from his first stint and he will have less pressure given his rotation slot. Granderson's best value is at CF. The rumor is DeRosa as they can get him for $6 mil. Plus gives them flexibility to work Gardener into the OF and DeRosa can play 3rd and give ARod a rest. I would be happy with Damon back as well.

[MSBNYY]

If they can get Damon back, I will quickly forget about Melky--especially if Granderson can bump that average back up to the .270 range. Vazquez is not really a K machine though. He strikes out less than a batter an inning over his career. Plus, while I couldn't look this up easily, I would think that in 32 starts, he probably faced pitchers a good 75 times, and of those 75, he could have struck out 40-50 of them.

Figure to see both his innings total and especially his strikeout total decline.

[yankeegirl49]

Vazquez has one year left on his contract. He sucked for half a year with the Yanks, He was an all star for the other half. we dont need him to be an ace, we need him to be better than Sergio Mitre. He is owed 11.5, Sheets was rumored to be seeking 12, so for the same price we get a guy we know is healthy and who throws around 200 innings every year, to be a #4.
On top of that, he is projected to be a type A, we offer arb, he declines looking for a multi year deal and we net draft picks.
I was against this at first, but after reading and thinking rationally instead of emotionally, Im warming up to it.

[heartybooooo]

Last year he averaged over a strikeout an inning. And he is close to that for his career. I agree that it is impacted by the NL, but still impressive. And he is going to be the #4 starter.

[MSBNYY]

Last year, he struck out pitchers 33 times. Ignore that, and it's still less than a K an inning.

There's a possibility he will not decline arbitration--especially if he sucks, which is likely. Just because he's a #4 starter doesn't mean it's acceptable if he sucks.

[$heriff Tom]

This is a great trade, and anyone complaining just likes to complain.

He is not coming in here to lead the staff. On some teams, he would be bought in to do that. Here he is playing a 4 or even 5 role. How can someone whine about this.

I grew to like Cabrera, but he is, flatly, expendable. Im sure people on the other side are bitching much louder than we should be, at losing him for Cabrera and Dunn.

I would very much have preferred the Lowe for Swisher deal I had heard bandied about. I too think Javy spit the bit here first time around, but thats done.

[thecaptain15]

I don't like the trade from the point of I just think Sheets is better coming off injury or not and he would have cost about the same and didn't have to waste the "chips"...But Vasquez as a #4 is fine......

[$heriff Tom]

I too would have preferred Sheets, but he has been so unpredictable with his injury woes, that you may find yourself in Spring Training in the same spot without a starter for that spot if you had chosen him instead.

[thecaptain15]

I hear you though I wouldn't be surprised one of Joba and Hughes having a better year then Vasquez....Also if we are taking his whole salary why did we give up that prospect who supposedly is moving up the rankings real quick?

[MSBNYY]

I also wouldn't be surprised to see Joba or Hughes having a better year.

And I hate the "he's a 4th starter" argument.

Compare him to Lackey, Beckett, DiceK or Lester. Vazquez is a DISTANT 5th.

[heartybooooo]

I'd take him over DiceK who is a five inning pitcher at best and I think he is the equal of Lackey. But I probably have a lower opinion of Lackey than most.

[mac0822]

This is more proof that even after buying a WS this year, NY still sweats Boston non stop.

[heartybooooo]

I think you have that reversed. Better get a bat or your pitchers will have to throw shut outs to win. "Now batting, David Ortiz's corpse."

[MSBNYY]

After buying the WS in 2004 and 2007, Boston sweat NY too. Why? Because the Red Sox are the chief threat to repeating in the East. How can we not worry about them? And Vazquez is no Lackey.

[9]

I'm on board with this deal. We don't need Vasquez to win 20, just be solid. Farewell, Melky Mantle? My only worry is how Robinson Cano will cope with losing his butt buddy.

[Jason Giambi]

If this is the best they can do, ugh.... maybe it will be better this time around.

Cano will be heartbroken.

[Chris]

Cabrera had no future in this organization.

I'm not thrilled with Javy, but as has been said, a guy who can plug up that end of the rotation hole is better than NOTHING. And NOTHING is what the Yanks would reap by retaining Melky.

I think, if anyone has an issue with this deal, it's the prospects we gave up for Javy. The Melky Mantle factor is negligible.

[thecaptain15]

Cashman was just on MLB Network and said they are very close to announcing another move for a position player..

Speculation was it may be DeRosa or Dye....

[MSBNYY]

While again, no one is comparing Melky to Mantle, to say he had no future in the organization, when he was the starting CF of a World Championship team, is a bit ridiculous. He was the present, and only 25 years old. Not an all star, but a nice player to have, with a flair for coming through in the clutch and getting the walkoff hit.

MLB Network had an interesting take on how he is probably more valuable to the Yankees than anywhere else.

I'm tired of people saying, "well, it's just a 4th starter," as if the need to win is any less when the bottom of the rotation pitches. You really think that there is less pressure as the 4th starter? Really? In the Bronx?

4th starters get playoff starts, and Vazquez has been nothing short of a disaster in the playoffs. His heart has been questioned not only by people in NY, but by his own manager in Chicago.

He had a sick year last year. Even if he gives up a full run more a game in 2010, this trade is a steal. But usually, once a piece of shit, always a piece of shit.

Javy v. a healthy Dice K? I don't like the odds.

[$heriff Tom]

Ive said it a billion times, Melky is a 4th outfielder type. Right now we have a greater need of a 4th starting pitcher than a 4th outfielder.

If we are going after one of DeRosa or Dye, Im hoping its Dye. Ive always been a fan. But, truthfully, either are an upgrade over Cabrera.

You people killing on this deal are too much. The POST put it best, by showing Javy wrapped in a bow, acting like the Yankees STOLE the guy as well. Every serious baseball pundit I have read on this have called it a great move by the Yankees, and I agreed from the beginning.

[MSBNYY]

Melky was the starting CF on the best team in baseball. Calling him a fourth OFer type at this point is as ridiculous as touting Chris Hammond. Oh wait...

We do not need a shitty pitcher, no matter where you put him in the rotation. Dye is NOT an upgrade over Cabrera. Not now. He hasn't been good in a few years. He put up Nick Swisher numbers. If we need a guy who can't hit the ball anymore, go out and get Dye. Defensively, Cabrera kicks the shit out of Dye. And if we're going to get a 36 year old OFer, get DAMON.

As for DeRosa, offensively, he would be an upgrade over Melky, but he is not a true OFer and only has 59 games in left field. Great guy to have on the team. I'd like to sign him, but defensively, this team is taking a big hit by taking Melky out.

The Yankees wouldn't have stolen Vazquez if they got him for free, and that includes salary.

Lifetime ERA in the AL--4.52.

Lifetime postseason ERA: 10.34.

If he pitches like he has his whole career, he will be a gutless loser come October.

If he pitches like he did last year, even if you add a full run to his ERA, then yes, it's a steal. But given his history, there's no reason to believe that will happen.

[Chris]

I was a Jermaine Dye mark 3 years ago...not so much anymore.

Great guy, great player, but now he's in the twilight of his career.

[MSBNYY]

Exactly. Why sign a guy at the end?