Another trade for the Yanks

The Yankees have traded outfielder Melky Cabrera, relief pitcher Michael Dunn, a minor league pitching prospect, and $500,000 to the Braves for starting pitcher Javier Vazquez and relief pitcher Boone Logan. Vazquez was with the Yankees for one year in 2004 and went 14-10 with an ERA just under 5.00. He has become a better pitcher since then exemplified by the 33 year old's great season last year with the Braves going 15-10 with an ERA under 3.00. Vazquez is a workhorse. He has pitched at least 198 innings, won at least 10 games, and struck out at least 150 batters the past 10 seasons, which shows he is durable and consistent.
Vazquez will likely pitch third for the Yanks as he has better stuff at this point in comparison to Pettitte. Pettitte, a soon to be 38 year old, is a solid veteran who will greatly help the Yanks as a fourth starter. He knows how to pitch in the AL East and can win games with effort and guts when he doesn't necessarily have his best stuff. This move gives the Yankees the deepest rotation in the AL and possibly the entire MLB. The Red Sox have a great rotation as well but I'd take Pettitte and Joba over Matsuzaka and Wakefield next season. I think Joba will be the fifth starter because the Yanks have put so much time into giving him more innings and the whole 'Joba Rules' fiasco would make them look like idiots if he was placed back into the bullpen. Phil Hughes, Alfredo Aceves, Chad Gaudin, and Sergio Mitre will compete for bullpen jobs, with the odd man out likely being Mitre as he struggled mightily last year.
Boone Logan is a 25 year old lefty who pitched only 20 innings for the Braves last year but he has good stuff and will likely take over Phil Coke's spot in the bullpen giving the Yankees two lefty options with Logan and Damaso Marte. The Braves had two lefties ahead of Logan in their bullpen last season so he didn't get many opportunities to pitch but he was solid against left handed batters and could help in that capacity next season.
Losing Melky Cabrera will likely force the Yankees to sign or trade for a left fielder. Gardner is good as a backup but he does not really have the skills to start every day. This could mean that the Yankees will try and bring Damon back but will only do so in a two year deal for around $20 million. Damon and agent Scott Boras are looking for a three to four year deal for $13-$15 million per year. Other options would be Mark DeRosa, who I like as a player and seems to be a great guy, who is looking for a deal for around $6.5 million. Melky was solid last season but the Yankees, and myself, thought he had really maxed out his potential so they might as well capitalize on his value while they could. Michael Dunn was projected to be a lefty out of the bullpen and, at 24, has a plus heater and slider. The prospect the Yanks gave up pitched well in Single A ball but who knows how he would have pitched as he got closer to the big leagues.

This trade makes the Yankees better for the 2010 season and they had to give up very little in the process. Their rotation, as stated earlier, will be amazing and they didn't have to sign one of the free agents with a questionable medical history (remember Carl Pavano?). I like this move and I look forward to seeing this rotation dominate next season.

1. CC Sabathia LHP

2. AJ Burnett RHP

3. Javier Vazquez RHP

4. Andy Pettitte LHP

5. Joba Chamberlain RHP