Tim Hudson Extension Close

I'm not really sure where Vazquez fits, although there would certainly be numerous teams after him if the Braves made him available.

A big issue is the fact that he has a NTC for West division teams, so they're basically stuck dealing with two-thirds of the league.

I doubt that Vazquez would go to Colorado, but some sort of Vazquez and Kelly Johnson for Huston Street and Brad Hawpe deal could be interesting, all four of those players are only signed through 2010, although Hawpe has a 2011 option for $9.5M net.

Another interesting option could be some sort of Cuddyer and a reliever for Vazquez swap. The money would essentially be even, Cuddyer is due $8.5M for 2010 plus a $10.5M option for 2011 with a $1M buyout. Obviously the Twins would need to include an additional talent, but the Twins have some good relievers that could be willing to include in order to land Vazquez, a veteran ace to head their rotation. The Twins already have a replacement in hand, and Span, Young, Gomez and Morales splitting time in the outfield wouldn't be awful, Ben Revere should be able to contribute by 2011.

Thoughts?

Dont know which team would give Braves what they're looking for in return for Javier Vazquez.
1. it's only going to be a playoff-caliber team
2. a team that needs a SP obviously
3. and a team that's offense can survive by losing a good RH bat
How many teams are out there like that?

"Span, Young, Gomez and Morales splitting time in the outfield wouldn't be awful"
No offense, but I totally disagree. I know Gomez and Young are still young, but their OBPs are just awful. And only thing Gomez brings to the table on offense is his speed.
And are you talking about Angel Morales for the Twins? or Jose? Because Jose is a catcher and never has been in the OF, and Angel is 19 and just finished in A ball

I believe some playoff teams would prefer to try for Lackey first. He's younger and shouldnt cost much more than $5mil per at most.

I'm not sure what kind of return the Braves will get for Vazquez(although it will be more than Lowe) since he's a FA to be and had his best year ever at the age of 33. It's a gamble to expect the same.

"I believe some playoff teams would prefer to try for Lackey first. He's younger and shouldnt cost much more than $5mil per at most.
Posted by: jaydh2 | November 04, 2009 at 10:51 AM"

Um, yes he will? he's looking for AJ money, doubt he'll get that but 5m is just a lowball offer.

I believe some playoff teams would prefer to try for Lackey first. He's younger and shouldnt cost much more than $5mil per at most.

Posted by: jaydh2 | November 04, 2009 at 10:51 AM

I don't think 16.5mil per yr is a lowball offer, I believe with the Yanks out of the bidding its around what he can expect.

Posted by: jaydh2 | November 04, 2009 at 11:03 AM

Those 2 comments make no sense at all. First you say that Lackey shouldn't get much more than $5M a season then you say that $16.5M isn't a lowball offer. Just because the Yankees probably won't be bidding doesn't mean that he won't get paid. The Angels, Dodgers, and Mets will all make some sort of bid for him. If he doesn't get what Burnett got last year it will be close, at least $15M a season.

Off the top of my head Texas and Colorado are probably the best fits, but I don't know if Vazquez would go to either.

Someone mentioned the Reds but they have payroll constraints so they aren't very likely, plus they don't really have any right handed power hitters.

Vazquez + KJ + $$ for Derek Lee.

How about Vazquez to the Nationals for Josh Willingham? They've stated their desire for a veteran starter (and they probably won't win the Lackey Derby), and appear to have some payroll flexibility.

resigned = traded
sorry about that.

Derrek Lee has a no-trade clause, so any scenario that involves trading for him probably won't happen.

As for Vazquez, I still think that Minnesota is a decent fit if they can figure out how to fit his salary into their budget.

Some sort of Cuddyer/Vazquez swap seems pretty reasonable to me.

"

Scribble, I have always been pro Cuddyer-Vazquez. I thought about giving them a middle infielder in Kelly, but the return of a bullpen isn't going to be likely. That's what they are missing. We could go for a starter, or better yet for a few prospects. A type-A great pitcher for a hard playing Right handed RF/1B type-B player for 2 years. Javy proved to be better than I thought, but it's something to build on."

Well, it's actually really only one year of Cuddyer at $9M, with a $9.25M net option for 2011.

Vazquez is clearly the more valuable player than Cuddyer, so the Twins would likely have to include an additional piece to even things out, but I think that it's a reasonable suggestion, depending on whether the Twins believe that they can move forward offensively without Cuddyer.

What about something like Michael Cuddyer and Jon Rauch for Vazquez?

The money is essentially even.

The Twins get a TOR veteran starter that they could really use, Young can replace Cuddyer in left field, and the Twins would still have Nathan, Mijares, Crain, Neshek, Guerrier, Keppel and either Liriano or Perkins in the bullpen.

The Braves obviously have the pitching depth to lose Vazquez, and in return they get a power-hitting RH right fielder on a reasonable one-year deal with an option if they want to retain him, and they get one year of a consistently good veteran reliever that could temporarily close if necessary.

Just because Derrick Lee has a NTC doesn't mean he would exercise it to avoid going to a top 5 organization like the Atlanta Braves. Given what has transpired over the last year or two, its not unreasonable to assume he and other players there would want out.

The Cubs want a 2B and they want to get rid of Milton Bradley. I could see a Vasquez/KJ for Lee/Bradley, but I don't know the salary-related reprecussions.

Carlos Lee for Derek Lowe is feasible if the Astros want pitching instead of hitting. It would be a wash because they both have very similar contracts, and the purpose of trading away Lowe would be mostly for salary dumping purposes, odd considering they just signed him 10 months ago. you'd think they'd have a good idea on how long their money is.

after watching Anderson in LF last year, I think the braves are going to stay away from guys with terrible defense (Dye and Lee).

Vasquez is worth much more than Josh Willingham

I am sorry, but I would rather not trade vazquez for DLEE. It makes no sense on the Braves part, as we could just as well sign Laroache and Keep Vazquez, and the production difference between Laroache and Dlee is definately not worth Vazquez. I say the Braves hold onto Javy unless they get a controllable difference maker.

Lowe for Magglio Ordonez?