ChiSox trade for Vasquez

Interesting move.

 

D-Backs get El Duque, others from ChiSox for Vazquez

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ESPN.com news services

The World Champion Chicago White Sox have traded for Javier Vazquez, adding pitching power to a starting rotation that included four pitchers with double-digit wins last season.

The Arizona Diamondbacks will send Vazquez to the White Sox, ESPN.com Insider Jerry Crasnick confirmed Wednesday.

In exchange, Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez, reliever Luis Vizcaino and outfield prospect Chris Young will be sent to Arizona.

The deal has yet to be announced by the teams because Arizona is sending cash to the White Sox, which requires the commissioner's approval. Also, the players must take physical exams.

Vazquez had asked to be traded to a team that would be easier for his family in Puerto Rico to visit. He is owed $24 million from the $45 million, four-year contract he agreed to with the Yankees in January 2004. That deal gives him salaries of $11.5 million in 2006 and $12.5 million in 2007.

It would be the fourth major offseason move by the White Sox since Chicago won its first World Series since 1917. The White Sox re-signed first baseman Paul Konerko and traded for DH Jim Thome and utility player Rob Mackowiak.

Vazquez filed a formal trade demand Nov. 10, the right of veteran players dealt during multiyear contracts. Arizona had until March 15 to trade him or risk having Vazquez become a free agent.

He is owed $11.5 million next year and $12.5 million in 2007.

Vazquez was obtained by the New York Yankees from Montreal after the 2003 season and was an All-Star in his first season with New York, going 14-9 with a 4.75 ERA. But he won just one of his last nine regular-season starts and was traded to Arizona last January as part of the deal that sent Randy Johnson to the Yankees. He went 11-15 with a 4.42 ERA for the Diamondbacks this year.

Hernandez, who pitched in relief in the playoffs, was 9-9 last season and has a career record of 70-49, spending most of his time in the major leagues with the Yankees.

El Duque is signed for next year, with a base salary of $4,625,000. He can earn an additional $2 million in bonuses based on innings, getting the full amount if he pitches 205 innings

Vizcaino joined the White Sox last season as part of a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers that also landed Chicago Scott Podsednik and sent Carlos Lee to the Brewers. He pitched well in the second half after a slow start and finished 6-5 with a 3.73 ERA.

Vazquez has an 89-93 career record, pitching for the Montreal Expos, the Yankees and the Diamondbacks.

Young batted .277 with 26 homers and 77 RBI for Double-A Birmingham last season and was one of the White Sox's top prospects.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

 

I'm actually ok with it (from a fan standpoint). Vazquez won't be in a pressure cooker city (NY), and I think the Sox staff can make him better than average.

 

October. Big game. Need something from the bottom of your rotation. Vazquez.

There isn't enough alcohol in the world for that scenario.

 

sure there is....trust me, I'll find enough to make it work.

 

Vazquez is a fantastically talented pitcher, so stat geeks think Chicago got the far better end of this deal. I saw Chris Young in the AFL this year, and he certainly has potential, but I think the White Sox are getting a heck of a lot stronger this off-season. Vazquez gives up an inordinate number of fly balls and therefore home runs, but all his other indicators are sterling, so in the right ballpark he could once again be a top of the line starter. Unfortunately for him, Comiskey definitely isn't that stadium, but I still like the move. I'd take Vazquez above any of the other White Sox starters aside from Buehrle (Garland's season has fluke written all over it).

 

A-Rod has great stats too. If I were a Yanks fan, I wouldn't want him within 10 miles of a pressure situation.

 

We've all heard such comments from Red Sox fans bitter about how he ended up in New York instead of Boston, but statisticians proved that the idea of Alex Rodriguez struggling in clutch situations is a myth. Hardly anyone was better last season when his team was trailing or winning by less than three runs.

 

Bitter? Hardly. It's the best thing that ecer happened to the franchise since Teddy Ballgame signed on.

 

It wouldn't surprise me to see Chris Young starting in CF for the Diamondbacks by seasons end. He played for the Intimidators two seasons ago. Probably the best player I have seen come through Kannapolis. He also played in the futures game last year. I see this trade being bigger for the Diamondbacks than the Sox.