VAZQUEZ TO YANKEES, MELKY TO BRAVES: FANS CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC

Congratulations to Joe Girardi. Now that he's proven that he could work with a 3 man playoff rotation, it looks like he won't have to next year.

For those unfamiliar with the details, the trade is as follows:

Yankees receive:
Javier Vazquez RH SP
Boone Logan LH RP

Braves receive:
Melky Cabrera OF
Mike Dunn LH RP
Arodys Vizcaino RH SP
& $500,000.

Both Vazquez and Cabrera are the main pieces of the trade as both are quality everyday players coming off excellent seasons (Vazquez 15-10, 2.87 ERA, 238ks, Cabrera with 13HRs and 10 steals). The Yankees get the better short term deal, as Vazquez is a top tier pitcher, and based on stats, he's a solid#2, even in the Yankee rotation. The Yankees also free up left field to get (yet another) big bat if they are willing to exceed the current $200,000,000 plus 40% of any excess of $170 million in luxury tax.

(For comparison, the Yankees were assessed a 25.69 million tax for having an average payroll of 226.2, well over the $162 million threshold for 2009.)

While at best, Cabrera is only an above average outfielder, Atlanta does reduces the number of starting pitchers on payroll from 6 to the standard 5 (Derek Lowe, Tim Hudson, Jair Jurrens. Tommy Hanson, and Kenshin Kawakami). Salary relief and the better long term options also go to Atlanta, as Vazquez is in the last year of his contract and Vizcaino is a young, fairly highly touted prospect.

Despite Vazquez's fairly impressive resume, Yankee fans will probably have some reservations. Vazquez was a very average pitcher in New York, despite going 14-10, with a 4.91 ERA. Vazquez is a great pitcher. . . in the National League. In the junior circuit his career ERA is a pedestrian 4.52. More importantly, he's also the guy that gave up a grand slam to Johnny Damon among the 12 runs (3 hrs) allowed in 11.1 innings during the 2004 postseason that most Yankee fans don't want to talk about.

Addendum:

In many ways I consider Vazquez to be the Anti-Lackey. Both are top tier starters, who could be an ace in another rotation. Both are now playing on different teams than they were last year. Both are also 33. But the differences. . . let me count the ways.

Lackey:
-Texan
-Will be the first time he will not be playing in an Angels uniform (although technically he played for Anaheim, the Los Angeles Angels and finally the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim).
-Injury prone
- Brief periods of being a strikeout pitcher
-Playing for Boston
-Remarkably consistent
-First year of a 5 year $82.5 million contract (6 years if he misses time due to preexisting elbow conditions)

Vazquez:
-Puerto Rican
-2nd time he has pitched for the Yankees. Has pitched for 4 other teams (Expos, White Sox, Diamondbacks, and Atlanta)
-Practically nonexistent injury history (although he did pitch with elbow trouble while in New York in 2004)
-Strikeout pitcher that has had periods of not striking out people
-Inconsistent and often underperforms
-Playing for New York
-Has pitched at the Major league level since '98 (4 more years than Lackey)
-Free agent for the 2011 season.

If I were to draft a pitcher for the year for fantasy baseball. . . I would pick Lackey for H2H leagues and Vazquez for roto leagues. Vazquez puts up better season numbers, but Lackey is far more consistent week to week.

Merry Christmas to the Christians, Catholics and Greek Orthodox out there.