Javier Vazquez Traded by White Sox to Braves in 5-Player Deal
Gonna have to make this a quick one, on my way out the door.
Just caught on ESPN.com that Peter Gammons is reporting the Chicago White Sox have traded starting pitcher Javier Vazquez to the Atlanta Braves in a 5-player deal. No official announcement has been made, but Vazquez has reportedly been told that the deal will happen. Vazquez is flying to Atlanta on Wednesday for a physical.
According to the story, Vazquez is being traded along with goatee-superstar Boone Logan to the Braves for Jo-Jo Reyes, Brett Lillibridge, and “another top prospect.” I hope that ESPN is not considering Lillibridge to be a “top prospect.” He hit .220 with 4 homeruns in AAA ball last year. Jo-Jo Reyes was 3-11 with an ERA over 5.00 last year.
Loading ...Let’s hope that one or two of these guys is like a Carlos Quentin — a young player who struggles in their first few seasons, but who flips the switch once he gets to the South Side. Ken Williams hit gold last off-season with Quentin and Alexei Ramirez (not to mention John Danks and Gavin Floyd) so I’m willing to be open-minded.
Plus, what are we really losing with Javier Vazquez leaving?
He has been serviceable, and sometimes very good, starting pitcher during his major league career. But he has never quite recaptured the magic that he had when he first came up with the Montreal Expos. And while Javier Vazuez pitched decently in 2007, and very well in spurts early in 2008, his own manager questioned his readiness to pitch in big games. And, unfortunately for the Whie Sox down the stretch in 2008, Ozzie’s fears about Javier’s big game cojones were borne out with a succession of poor starts.
I don’t have time to analyze this too much now. And I don’t really know what I’d say without delving more into the minor league careers and projections of Reyes, Lillibridge, and the mystery “top prospect.”
I know this: after the end of last season, I am not all that worried about losing Javier Vazquez, as we have some good young arms like Lance Broadway and others to fill in the back of the rotation between Beuhrle-Danks-Floyd. And hopefully Jose Contreras comes back towards midseason ready to give us a boost down the stretch. And Boone Logan? I will miss his facial hair, but not the untimely late inning homeruns that he always seemed to give up.
You can count me in the corner of the staunch Ken Williams supporters. Not every deal he makes is good, but he hits more than he misses. In a sport where success is getting a hit 30% of the time, I’ll take my chances trusting in the personnel decisions of Ken Williams.
Thanks for the time on the South Side Javier Vazquez. I am not crying that you are gone, and your big-game struggles were frustrating, but I do appreciate your efforts and the many good starts that you had.
Now let’s see what Reyes, Lillibridge, and the other guy bring to the table.
Tags: Chicago White Sox, Javier Vazquez, ken williams, MLB, ozzie guillen
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I will say Javier was absolutely awesome at times, striking people out….but he was so NOT clutch at the end of the year it is not even funny.
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You know how I feel. Unload him.
He’s on the way, way down. He throws the K but has made it clear that he’s not that tough a competitor and will be out of the game soon. I like bringing some youth to the organization, too. We need it and I trust Kenny’s assessment of talent.
Boone might be something we miss, he had flashes of light. As for JOJO and co…well I hope you’re right Jrod, another quentin would be mind blowing.
Here’s a thought, and I’ll have to do some research, maybe one of these guys is a base stealer…we need one, to open up the game on the bases.
Wow, it’s Decemeber and I’m already dreaming of april.
maybe it’s the bone chilling cold and how much the bears suck?
oh yeah, that’s it.
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At least you have Derrick Rose and the 2005 World Series championship to keep you warm at night. Don’t stop believing.
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