The Javier Vazquez trade

by Adam J. Morris on Dec 2, 2008 7:12 PM CST Comment 29 comments

Javier Vazquez has supposedly been traded to the Atlanta Braves, along with Bob Sturm lookalike Boone Logan, for Jo-Jo Reyes, Brent Lillibridge, and another "top prospect."

Vazquez has 2 years left at $23 million on his deal. He's also had remarkably consistent FIPs the past three years -- 3.86, 3.80, and 3.74 -- which belies his 2006 and 2008 ERAs in the high 4s.

My initial reaction was that this was a bad deal for Atlanta, but now, I'm thinking otherwise. It depends on the final prospect, of course -- I can't imagine Jordan Schafer or Tommy Hanson are in this deal, which would change things -- but Reyes is a fairly generic nice lefty pitching prospect and Lillibridge is a guy who hasn't lived up to his statty hype, and looks much more like a future utility guy than a qualify MIF.

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Everything I have read or heard says

Morton, Lillinbridge and Flowers

I am a big Vazquez fan and think he will be a solid #2 in the NL

by laxtonto on Dec 2, 2008 7:23 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

No Jo-Jo

Mark Bowman says it’s Vazquez and Logan for four Braves, none of which are Reyes. They pick from a list of five.

Link

Mike Grouse Interview - Rangers' Midwest Cross Checker

by Andy Seiler on Dec 2, 2008 7:23 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

meet me at the mawwl... it's goin dowwn...

by oc on Dec 2, 2008 7:53 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Hey, Joey Jo-Jo!

by SteveP on Dec 2, 2008 9:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I thought JoJo was the helper monkey

But that’s Mojo.

by Adam J. Morris on Dec 2, 2008 9:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

mr. teeny?

""If they'd have told me you can make the team but you've got to shine the shoes, I'd have been there shining shoes." -Bradley

by ab03 on Dec 2, 2008 9:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Pray.....for...........Mojo

I had a paper route when I was a kid. I was supposed to go to 2,000 houses. Or two dumpsters.

by TheBZA on Dec 2, 2008 11:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

ah

not krusty’s monkey, homer’s helper monkey

""If they'd have told me you can make the team but you've got to shine the shoes, I'd have been there shining shoes." -Bradley

by ab03 on Dec 2, 2008 11:38 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Peavey

Is it safe to assume that the Braves are out of the Peavey sweepstakes? Escobar was supposed to be the centerpiece of the deal, with Lillinbidge taking over at SS. I suppose that they could pick up another SS from free agency.

by Excel Hearts Choi on Dec 2, 2008 7:38 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I think it's safe.

The bloggerformelyknownasBigBaddBubbaJ

by NYTXFAN on Dec 2, 2008 8:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The 4 players are....

Flowers, Lillibridge, Jon Gilmore and Santos Rodriguez.

by LiamP on Dec 2, 2008 8:08 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Can anyone...

throw out a comparable package of ranger’s prospects to that package? I know next to nothing about the Brave’s system so I don’t have a good knowledge base to decide whether it’s a good deal or not.

by rangerjake on Dec 2, 2008 8:15 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I'll Give It a Shot

Flowers – Max Ramirez a year ago
Lillibridge – German Duran with better potential
Jon Gilmore – Matt West with slightly higher ceiling (same draft class, quite similar production)
Santos Rodriguez – Bullpen version of Miguel de los Santos; pitched in the Appy League at age 20 (same level as Miggy at about same age)

Mike Grouse Interview - Rangers' Midwest Cross Checker

by Andy Seiler on Dec 2, 2008 8:24 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Lillibridge

I think you are overrating him.

He hasn’t hit much the past two years, and isn’t much of a fielder, from what I understand.

by Adam J. Morris on Dec 2, 2008 8:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

True

I think he still has higher potential, but he likely won’t reach it. He does have more natural abililty than Duran in my opinion. However, I agree with you that he’s more likely to be a utility guy.

Mike Grouse Interview - Rangers' Midwest Cross Checker

by Andy Seiler on Dec 2, 2008 8:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Fifth Player

I also wonder who that fifth player on the list the Braves submitted was.

Mike Grouse Interview - Rangers' Midwest Cross Checker

by Andy Seiler on Dec 2, 2008 8:41 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Lillibridge

The BTF guys really liked Lillibridge at the time he was traded to the Braves. Most of this stemmed from the fact that he was the “throw-in” at the time.

by Excel Hearts Choi on Dec 2, 2008 8:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.

by knockoutking on Dec 2, 2008 9:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That's not much at all

Kanye, you want to be the voice of this generation? Get in line! It goes me, Obamagirl, the Freecreditreport.com guys, then It's a tie between you-and Crocs.
-Stephen Colbert

by Conjunction on Dec 2, 2008 8:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I could live with giving up that package for a guy who we would be slotting behind

Millwood and Pads.

The bloggerformelyknownasBigBaddBubbaJ

by NYTXFAN on Dec 3, 2008 4:53 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Vazquez is better

than both of them.

by Randy Richardson on Dec 3, 2008 5:03 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

much better

In memory of Ulysses Simpson Grant Stoner. RIP Lil Stoner.

by tricer on Dec 3, 2008 5:53 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Why would you put Vazquez BEHIND Padilla and Millwood?!

And That Happened: Sports with a Hint of Sarcasm

by philkid3 on Dec 3, 2008 2:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Steal trade is a steal.

And That Happened: Sports with a Hint of Sarcasm

by philkid3 on Dec 2, 2008 9:08 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Flowers is the only prospect in Sickels top 20. Good deal for Atlanta. IMHO.

5) Tyler Flowers, C, Grade B: Love the power and walks, main question is glove.

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2008/10/23/641522/atlanta-braves-top-20-pros

Mitch Moreland - Rangers 2009 Minor League Player of the Year

by RangerMad on Dec 2, 2008 9:13 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Gilmore

He also gave Gilmore a C+ in the below-20 part. Not bad for his age.

Mike Grouse Interview - Rangers' Midwest Cross Checker

by Andy Seiler on Dec 2, 2008 9:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

vazeuez

seems to me to be kinda like pat burrell – a guy thats good and quite consistant but no one sees as being THAT good – however he is worth more than most ppl see him

Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.

by knockoutking on Dec 2, 2008 9:43 PM CST reply actions 0 recs