Braves acquire Vazquez from White Sox... (1 Viewer)

[Nigel Incubator-Jones]

From Rotoworld...

According to ESPN.com, the White Sox will trade Javier Vazquez and Boone Logan to the Braves for Jo-Jo Reyes, Brent Lillibridge and a prospect.

Ken Rosenthal agrees that the deal has been agreed to, but he doesn't think Reyes is involved. On the other hand, he believes young slugger Tyler Flowers might be going to Chicago in the trade. It sounds like it will be a good deal for the Braves, though there's really no need for Logan to be involved. They already have seven relievers better than him

 

[Doctor Detroit]

This makes me happy as a Vazquez owner.

 

[Eephus]

Dealing Swish and Vazquez for prospects isn't the offseason I would have expected but Ken Williams is always unpredictable. It's a pretty decent package of talent in return for a 32 year old inning eater. Lillibridge was highly regarded a couple of years ago but struggled in a small MLB sample size. A change in surroundings may be what he needs. Flowers' future depends on whether he can handle the defensive load at C, but he could push Pierzynski in a few years. He's shown excellent plate discipline but I don't know if his power will project up. Rodriguez is a raw arm and the other guy I never heard of.

2009 Fantasy impact: Vazquez (more Ks in NL), Lillibridge (if he can hold a job), Escobar and Kelly Johnson (less competition).

 

[jfranco77]

2009 Fantasy impact: Vazquez (more Ks in NL), Lillibridge (if he can hold a job), Escobar and Kelly Johnson (less competition).

Also - Peavy not going to ATL. Most likely Yunel and Kelly are solid in ATL for the year too.I think Javy is a bit more than an innings eater. I wonder why the ChiSox would give him away when he's relatively inexpensive and the market for pitching is just heating up.

 

[Tackling Dummies]

I wonder why the ChiSox would give him away when he's relatively inexpensive and the market for pitching is just heating up.

I'd guess that Ozzie Guillen might have had something to do w/ Vazquez moving on.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

Interesting for sure. ChiSox are doing good things here I think.

 

[Eephus]

2009 Fantasy impact: Vazquez (more Ks in NL), Lillibridge (if he can hold a job), Escobar and Kelly Johnson (less competition).

Also - Peavy not going to ATL. Most likely Yunel and Kelly are solid in ATL for the year too.I think Javy is a bit more than an innings eater. I wonder why the ChiSox would give him away when he's relatively inexpensive and the market for pitching is just heating up.

I've always thought Vazquez had the potential to be a very good pitcher, but he's stabilized at a league average level since he left Montreal. His ERA+ numbers for the past five seasons are: 92, 100, 98, 127, 98. Take out the outlier 2007 season and he's pretty much the epitome of meh.He is durable which has some value in itself. Nine straight seasons with more than 198 IP is impressive, especially to a team like the Braves who always seem to have two or three SPs on the DL.

 

[BoulderBob]

When you look up the word "choke" in the dictionary, there should be a picture of Javy. Has the stuff of a #1, but he has no place on a playoff rotation. Not bad as a #4 or #5 though....guy just can't handle pressure for some reason or another.

 

[urbanhack]

good riddance!

 

[Spartans Rule]

When you look up the word "choke" in the dictionary, there should be a picture of Javy. Has the stuff of a #1, but he has no place on a playoff rotation. Not bad as a #4 or #5 though....guy just can't handle pressure for some reason or another.

He's got a whopping four appearances and 15.2 IP in the postseason. Not enough enough to draw conclusions from.I wouldn't feel any worse about throwing him in the playoffs than any other pitcher with similar regular season numbers.

 

[BoulderBob]

When you look up the word "choke" in the dictionary, there should be a picture of Javy. Has the stuff of a #1, but he has no place on a playoff rotation. Not bad as a #4 or #5 though....guy just can't handle pressure for some reason or another.

I wouldn't feel any worse about throwing him in the playoffs than any other pitcher with similar regular season numbers.

I think most White Sox/Yankees fans would disagree with you. Guy is visibly rattled at the first hint of trouble. Don't get me wrong, from April to July, I'd take 5 Javy Vazquez's on my team, but he has earned his reputation as choker in big games, and there is reason GM's keep dumping him despite his ace-quality repertoire. He may pull a Kenny Rogers down the line, but I'd be very surprised. Some game-logs from his time with the White Sox('08-'06) and Yankees('04), ignoring 2007 when the Sox were out of the race by June.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/gl.cg...zquja01&t=p

http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/gl.cg...ar=2006&t=p

http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/gl.cg...p&year=2004

Of course I'm biased as Sox fan, but his August-September peformances were pitiful, at best.

 

[Widbil83]

Very true. Javy always choked in big games. He would be fine until about the 5th inning and implode. Always.