New York (AP) — Pitcher Javy Vazquez was traded back to the Yankees by
the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday for outfielder Melky Cabrera, a move that
pushed New York's payroll for next season over $200 million.
New
York also got left-hander Boone Logan as part of the deal, and the
Braves obtained a pair of pitching prospects, left-hander Mike Dunn and
right-hander Arodys Vizcaino, along with about $500,000.
The
trade leaves New York with an opening in left field, allowing the
Yankees to perhaps pursue Mark DeRosa. New York does not appear
interested in re-signing Johnny Damon or going after free agents Matt
Holliday and Jason Bay.
Atlanta had six starting pitchers and
felt free to deal Vazquez, who was 14-10 for the Yankees in 2004. He
started 10-5 with a 3.56 ERA that year and made his only All-Star team
but faded to a 4-5 record and 6.92 ERA after the break.
His first
stint in New York ended miserably, when he relieved Kevin Brown
trailing 2-0 in Game 7 of the AL championship series against Boston and
allowed a first-pitch grand slam to Damon, then gave up a two-run homer
to Damon in the fourth.
Vazquez was dealt to the Arizona
Diamondbacks after the season in the trade that brought Randy Johnson
to New York. He spent one year with Arizona, then went to the Chicago
White Sox for three seasons.
Now 33, the right-hander was 15-10
with a 2.87 ERA and 238 strikeouts this year for the Braves, and
finished fourth in NL Cy Young Award voting. Vazquez, whose career
record is 142-139 in 12 seasons, will make $11.5 million next year and
can become a free agent after the season.
He joins a pitching
rotation that includes CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte. New
York's top four starters will combine for $64 million in payroll — more
than four teams paid their entire rosters last season.
With the
trade and including the still-unfinalized signing of free-agent
designated hitter Nick Johnson, the Yankees payroll for next season
stands at $200.9 million for 16 signed players. That includes two not
expected to make the opening-day roster: pitcher Andrew Brackman and
infielder Juan Miranda.
Cabrera had been the Yankees' starting
center fielder for most of the last three seasons. After losing the job
to Brett Gardner during spring training this year, he quickly regained
it and hit .274 with 13 homers and 68 RBIs, helping the Yankees win the
World Series for the first time since 2000. He made $1,425,000 last
season and is eligible for free agency after the 2012 season.
Logan,
acquired by the Braves from the White Sox in the Vazquez trade last
December, was 1-1 with a 5.19 ERA in 20 relief appearances. He held
left-handers to a .231 average and figures to fill the hole created by
the departure of Phil Coke, who was sent to Detroit in a deal that
brought New York center fielder Curtis Granderson.
Atlanta had a
surplus of starting pitching after giving Tim Hudson a $28 million,
three-year contract in November. The trade left the Braves with a
rotation that includes Hudson, Jair Jurrjens, Tommy Hanson, Derek Lowe
and Kenshin Kawakami.
The 24-year-old Dunn had a combined 99
strikeouts in 73 1-3 innings at Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre and
Double-A Trenton, going 4-3 with a 3.31 ERA in 38 relief appearances.
He made his major league debut on Sept. 4 and had a 6.75 ERA in four
appearances.
Vizcaino, who is 19, was 2-4 with a 2.13 ERA at Class A Staten Island, striking out 52 in 42 1-3 innings.