The Braves finally made a move to solidify its bullpen, but it wasn’t the move many were expecting. Instead of signing AJ Burnett or trading for Jake Peavy of the Padres, Braves GM Frank Wren sent top catching prospect Tyler Flowers as well as highly thought of infielder Brent Lillibridge, along with two other minor leaguers to the Chicago White Sox for Javier Vazquez. The righty starter finished last season with a 12-16 record and 4.67 ERA. Vazquez is known as a strikeout, innings-eating machine with a 127-129 career record. He has recorded 200+ strikeouts four times in his career and has pitched 200+ innings 8 of the last 9 seasons. Vazquez figures to fit into the #2 spot in the rotation as it stands right now, behind Jair Jurrjens, with Tim Hudson out until August and John Smoltz and Tom Glavine both undecided. The workhorse is under contract through 2010 and will make $11.5M both this season and next. The Braves also received Boone Logan, a lefthanded reliever who posted a 2-3 record last season with a 5.95 ERA.
Meanwhile what the Braves gave up though might come back to bite them. For the second time in 16 months, the team has traded away a power hitting catching prospect. Tyler Flowers had put up impressive numbers in the Arizona fall league (12 home runs to lead the AFL, along with a .387 average. He also received AFL Batter of the year honors from www.mopupduty.com.) and could have potentially moved positions to make the major league club. Brian McCann’s affordable contract though likely made Flowers expendable. Also included was Brent Lillibridge, who was rumored to be a part of a trade for Jason Bay at last season’s trading deadline before the Pirates backed out. Class A Jon Gilmore and 20 year old pitcher Santos Rodriguez were the final pieces of the puzzle.
What does this trade mean? It means that the Braves don’t HAVE to trade for Jake Peavy and only have to sign AJ Burnett to complete the rotation (Burnett, Jurrjens, Vazquez, Campillo, Morton/Reyes/Hanson). It could potentially give the Braves leverage against the Padres to show they are not desperate, forcing San Diego to take less than market value for Peavy. But with Flowers’ departure though, along with Lillibridge, it means that Yunel Escobar would HAVE to be the centerpiece for any Peavy deal. The rest of the Braves top prospects (Hanson, Heyward, Freeman) are thought to be untouchable. Also with Lillibridge now a White Sox farmhand, should Escobar go the team would have to sign a free agent shortstop, and that could be why Rafael Furcal has not signed yet; perhaps he is waiting to see how the Braves situation works out.
The Braves have added a bit to its payroll and does have more to spend. It might have to, to get a leftfielder, another pitcher and perhaps a shortstop.
The team also lost out on Mike Hampton, after the oft-injured lefty took his finally clean bill of health to Houston to "be closer to his kids" who live in Arizona. Umm, Mike, after you stole the Braves money for the last few years, you then lied when you said you would give the Braves the first crack with a contract (and if the reports are correct, you took less money to sign with Houston). And please don't give me the whole "i want to be closer to my kids" speech. They live in Arizona. Retire and go live with them. Or sign with Arizona.
Bottom line The Braves STILL need to make a play for Burnett or Peavy. I would rather snag Peavy and use the Burnett money on a LF or SS, but that's just me.
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