The Yankees traded for Javy Vazquez yesterday for Melkey Cabrera and 2 prospects to further strengthen a roster that already was the best in baseball in 2009. It was typical Yankee philosophy to walk into this offseason not content with last years success.

I personally am a big fan of this deal for the Yanks and have to wonder- what are you doing Atlanta? I do realize that the last time Javy pitched in Yankee Stadium, Johnny Damon lit him up and eventually was the reason why the Yanks traded him shortly after the postseason, but that was then and this is now. Javy has outstanding stuff and will strike you out often. He’s 5 years older, 5 years wiser, and frankly- doesn’t have to be the ace of the rotation in New York. In Atlanta and Chicago- he had to be the go to guy and frankly- that’s not who he is. Javy is a good major league pitcher. A solid two at best, but a three is probably more realistic. He obviously has his downsides in terms of being too around the plate and is not immune to getting hit hard on certain days, but in New York- he’s a 3 or a 4. And since he’s a 3 or a 4 in that rotation- there’s a strong chance he could win 16-19 games next year. A lot of “experts” will tell you “Hey, he won’t be nearly as good next year due to the AL East” etc, but I’m throwing this out there. Javy is going to be a big part of the Yankee rotation next year barring injury.

I mean come on- you gave up a low level prospect, a left handed specialist in all likelyhood, and Melkey Cabrera to get him. Can you say bargain?

The Atlanta Braves needed to trade a pitcher- but seriously? Mike “Ryan” Dunn (Summer Catch anyone?)? Melkey Cabrera? And a 19 year old kid that may or may not make it? There wasn’t a better deal on the table from ANYONE? Everyone needs to know Melkey Cabrera frankly is a bad major league player. Period. There’s no other way around it. Ther’es no upside here. He hit 13 homers last year. Congrats- 9 were at Yankee Stadium and I would imagine 6 wouldn’t have left most high school fields. How many left handers could hit 9 homers in that bandbox? He’s not fast, he’s not by any means a good outfielder. He’s got an average to above average arm depending on who you talk to (I think it’s average for the record). There’s nothing in Cabrera to say ” We’re getting a guy with good potential.” I’m not buying his young age- I just don’t think there’s a ton of talent here that says “He’s going to get better.” I believe we’ve seen his ceiling and I think Atlanta really took this one on the chin. I just don’t think it was a good deal. I think they jumped the gun a little bit. They could have waited until spring training as some team out there is going to lose a starter to injury at some point. They could have waited until the trade deadline as someone would have loved his arm down the stretch. They sold low. They sold real low, and I think it’s going to come back to haunt the Braves. Period. End of story.