The LoHud Yankees Blog

It was one year ago today that the Yankees signed Mark Teixeira.

They were supposed to be out of the race. Teixeira was going to the Red Sox. Or maybe back to the Angels. Even the Orioles and Nationals were in the mix. The Yankees were supposed to be out of the race, until they suddenly won it.

Oddly enough, Pete was on vacation that day — two days before Christmas, who knew the Yankees would make a huge move? – but as someone pointed out a few weeks ago, it’s fun to read the comments from that day. Things start to get interesting around 3:18 p.m.

It’s worth remembering that Pete was gone on that day because, on this day, I’m flying to see my family in Missouri. I’ll be writing from the middle of the country for a few days before coming back to New York.

It’s two days before Christmas. My guess is the Yankees don’t have any big news planned.

But you never know.

Nick Johnson has passed his physical.

UPDATE, 12:15 p.m.: Chad here. Figured I would throw this up at the top of the post instead of beneath the press release.

One interesting moment from yesterday’s Javier Vazquez conference call came at the very end, when Brian Cashman was more or less asked why he didn’t simply bring back the pieces from the 2009 Yankees. If he wanted to, it seems Cashman could have simply stuck with Melky Cabrera, re-signed Andy Pettitte, Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui, and agreed to take a chance on Chien-Ming Wang’s recovery. Instead, there’s a good chance only one of those five will be back in pinstripes next season.

“Some players removed themselves from our ability to re-sign based on the contract discussions that were taking place,” Cashman said. “That happened both with players we had on this roster who elected free agency, as well as players in the current marketplace who we like and like a lot.”

It’s hard to hear or read those words and not think Cashman was refering to Damon. It seems the Yankees set a pretty firm limit on the amount of dollars and years they were willing to give their free agent left fielder, and they were able to hold that line because they had already reeled in Curtis Granderson, and because they had Nick Johnson on the hook. I know a lot of people prefer Damon — and it seems even more people prefer Matsui — but it’s hard to deny that Johnson can help this lineup with his ability to reach base. Injury is obviously a concern, but it’s not as though Damon or Matsui would have come without health concerns of their own.

Here’s the press release from the Yankees.

NEW YORK YANKEES SIGN DH/1B NICK JOHNSON TO ONE-YEAR CONTRACT

The New York Yankees today signed designated hitter / first baseman Nick Johnson to a one-year contract.

Johnson, 31, was third in the Majors in 2009 with a .426 on-base percentage in 133 combined games with Washington and Florida, trailing only American League MVP Joe Mauer (.444) and National League MVP Albert Pujols (.443). He placed sixth in the NL with 99 walks, while batting a career-high .291 (133-for-457) with 24 doubles, two triples, eight home runs and 62 RBI.

The Sacramento native began 2009 with the Nationals, batting .295 (104-for-353) with six home runs, 44 RBI and a .408 on-base percentage in 98 games before being traded with cash on July 31 to the Marlins in exchange for left-handed pitcher Aaron Thompson. In 35 games with Florida, he hit .279 (29-for-104) with two home runs, 18 RBI, 36 walks and a .477 on-base percentage.

Johnson’s .402 career on-base percentage since his Major League debut in 2001 is eighth among players with at least 3,000 plate appearances over the span.

He had his best overall season in 2006 with Washington, batting .290 (145-for-500) and posting career highs in games played (147), plate appearances (628), at-bats, hits, doubles (46), home runs (23), RBI (77), stolen bases (10) and walks (110). His .428 on-base percentage was a career best and the second-highest single-season mark in Washington franchise history behind Tim Raines’ .429 in 1987. Despite the numerous career highs, Johnson’s season was cut short on September 23, 2006, by a fractured right femur, which forced him to miss the entire 2007 season.

Johnson, who is a left-handed batter, is a .292 (190-for-650) career hitter with 16 home runs and a .424 on-base percentage against left-handed pitching and a .266 (503-for-1,889) career hitter with 73 home runs and a .394 on-base percentage against right-handed pitching. He owns a .992 career fielding percentage, having committed just 48 errors in 5,719 career chances.

He began his professional career in the Yankees organization after being selected by the club in the third round of the 1996 First-Year Player Draft. In three Major League seasons with the Yankees from 2001-03, he batted .256 (197-for-769) with 36 doubles, 31 home runs, 113 RBI, 125 walks and a .376 on-base percentage. He posted a team-leading .422 on-base percentage in his final year with the club before being traded on December 4, 2003, with outfielder Juan Rivera and left-handed pitcher Randy Choate to the Montreal Expos in exchange for right-handed pitcher Javier Vazquez.

In eight Major League seasons with the Yankees, Montreal/Washington (2004-06, ’08-09) and Florida (2009), he owns a .273 career batting average (693-for-2,539) with 165 doubles, five triples, 89 home runs, 379 RBI, 27 stolen bases and 487 walks.

The Yankees’ 40-man roster now stands at 38 players.

The Yankees made their third trade of the month on Tuesday, sending Melky Cabrera and two prospects to the Braves for starting pitcher Javier Vazquez and left-handed reliever Boone Logan. As I wrote for today’s newspaper, general manager Brian Cashman said the Yankees are unlikely to add another “big piece” this winter. With Vazquez in the mix, the bulk of the Yankees offseason shopping might be finished.

As Sam wrote, the Yankees have made moves that will help next season, but they haven’t given up the future in the process. By trading for Vazquez and Curtis Granderson without surrendering Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain or Jesus Montero, the Yankees have added big pieces without losing their top young players.

A few smaller notes that might have slipped through the cracks today…

• Brian Cashman said once again that the Yankees, “traded for Curtis Granderson to be our center fielder.” The Yankees don’t plan on moving him to left field and starting Brett Gardner in center, but there is one scenario in which that might happen. “That scenario would be only if Brett Gardner proves he’s the best center fielder on our club,” Cashman said.

• Vazquez has now been traded five times. The Yankees were actively involved in three of those trades, and they checked on Vazquez the other times he was traded. Cashman said the Yankees talked to Arizona in 2005 and talked to the White Sox in 2008, “but we just didn’t match up.”

• Something to keep in mind about Vazquez’s contract. “He projects as maybe a Type-A free agent,” Cashman said. “So if we’re not in a position to retain him, we’ll have the ability to secure draft picks. That was an attractive side of it as well. There are a lot of different reasons, but first and foremost, his ability to solidify the back of our rotation.”

• Asked if it was reasonable to assume either Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes would be the setup man next season, Cashman acknowledged it’s a possibility, but also threw Dave Robertson’s name in the mix.

• Why improve the rotation at the cost of the outfield? “Trying to strengthen the rotation with quality pitching is harder to do than to find someone to play left field,” Cashman siad. “Left field is an important part of the team, but the left field market is a lot fuller than the starting pitching market.”

• Here’s the Atlanta side of the story.

At this point, your expectation for the rest of the Yankees offseason depends entirely on how much you believe Brian Cashman when he speaks to the media.

“I will continue to look at any remaining piece,” Cashman said during today’s conference call. “But it won’t be a big piece. Any speculation about some high-end player who has big ability and dollars attached on a large scale would be inappropriate.”

We heard some of the same things at this time last year. Then Mark Teixeira signed a $180-million deal.

Cashman called last winter a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity to spend, an opportunity that presented itself because of the considerable money coming off the Yankees payroll and because of the considerable talent available in the free agent market. He said this winter will be different. My estimate has the Yankees payroll already over $200 million, and although Cashman wouldn’t say exactly what his budget is, he’s surely getting close to that figure.

“It’s probably not in my interest to say,” Cashman said. “I do have a number that we’re working under. We will be at that number and it will be less than last year. It’s as simple as that. It’s not in my interest to broadcast what the number is.”

Cashman didn’t rule out another move. In fact, he called left field and “evolving situation” and said to “stay tuned,” but he also said that several free agents — including some of the Yankees own, though he didn’t name names — had already priced themselves out of the Yankees plans.

Whether you believe that is entirely up to you.

Turns out, Javier Vazquez is on vacation with his family, but he’s agreed to be on the conference call.

Vazquez: “I’m glad to be back. I’m excited to be a part of the team again. Everybody that knows me, knows that I didn’t want to leave my first time out. I’m just glad to be back.”

Vazquez on his 2004 season with the Yankees: “In the second half, my arm didn’t feel as good as it did in the first half, and it was really the first time in my career, and really the only time in my career, that I felt my arm wasn’t where it’s supposed to be. I started getting treatment a little later than I should have. I never said anything. I went out there every five days. I hated not being out there. That might have been my mistake, I never said anything.”

Vazquez on his 2009 season: “I just felt good. I felt good in Atlanta. I was glad to be back in the National League. I just pitched. It’s tough to say this went good, this went bad. Obviously I had a good season and everything was working for me, but I can’t pinpoint everything.”

UPDATE, 4:18 p.m.: Brian Cashman is up next. Vazquez didn’t have a lot to say, just talked a lot about leaving New York with a bad taste in his mouth and being excited to get back with a chance to fix that.

UPDATE, 4:21 p.m.: Random tidbit. Vazquez is the first player the Yankees have traded for twice since Jeff Nelson.

Cashman on the 2004 numbers not bothering him: “He’s a tremendous pitcher who has a long career of success and durability. And really the second half of 04, which was poor, can not erase the long success he’s had as a major league pitcher.”

Cashman on Hughes and Chamberlain: “It’s going to be a competition for that fifth spot.” Cashman said whoever does not make the rotation will either go to the bullpen or go to Triple-A. The Yankees have not decided who gets bumped.

Cashman on the Yankees payroll: “I do have a number that we’re working under. We will be at that number and it will be less than last year… I will continue to look at any remaining piece (for the outfield), but it won’t be a big piece.”

We’re chatting right here at 3. Chad and I will answer your questions on Javy-Melky, what’s next for the Yankees and anything else you want to know about! Come on by for the live Q & A.

Here’s the press release from the Yankees. Don’t forget we’re doing the Live Chat right here at 3 p.m. today!

—-

NEW YORK YANKEES ACQUIRE RIGHT-HANDED PITCHER JAVIER VAZQUEZ

The New York Yankees today acquired right-handed pitcher Javier Vazquez and left-handed pitcher Boone Logan from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for outfielder Melky Cabrera, left-handed pitcher Michael Dunn, right-handed pitcher Arodys Vizcaino and cash considerations.

Vazquez, 33, went 15-10 with a 2.87 ERA (219.1IP, 181H, 70ER, 44BB, 238K, 20HR) with Atlanta in 2009, finishing fourth in National League Cy Young Award voting. He ranked second in the NL in strikeouts, strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.41) and opponents’ on-base percentage (.266); third in strikeouts per 9.0IP (9.77); tied for fourth in wins; fifth in innings pitched, opponents’ batting average (.223) and hits allowed per 9.0IP (7.43); and sixth in ERA. Over his final 22 starts of 2009, Vazquez posted a 2.49 ERA with 160 strikeouts and just 29 walks in 155.1IP, while limiting opponents to a .217 average.

Since 2000, he has recorded at least 10 wins and 150 strikeouts each season, making him just the 10th pitcher in Major League history to accomplish the feat according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Eight of the other nine pitchers are in the Hall of Fame. Over the same 10-year stretch, Vazquez ranks second in the Majors in innings pitched (2163.0), strikeouts (2001) and starts (327), while tossing at least 200.0 innings in all but one season (198.0 in 2004).

Originally selected by Montreal in the fifth round of the 1994 First Year Player Draft, Vazquez played his first six Major League seasons with the Expos from 1998-2003, compiling a 64-68 record with a 4.16 ERA (1229.1IP, 568ER). Prior to the 2004 season, he was traded to the Yankees in exchange for first baseman Nick Johnson, outfielder Juan Rivera and left-handed pitcher Randy Choate. In his lone season as a Yankee in 2004, Vazquez made the American League All-Star team, going 14-10 with a 4.91 ERA (198.0IP, 103ER). On January 11, 2005, he was traded with left-handed pitcher Brad Halsey, catcher Dioner Navarro and cash considerations to Arizona for left-handed pitcher Randy Johnson.

In a 12-year Major League career with Montreal, the Yankees, Arizona (2005), the White Sox (2006-08) and Atlanta, Vazquez owns a 142-139 record with a 4.19 ERA and 2,253 strikeouts. He is under contract through the 2010 season.

Logan, 25, went 1-1 with a 5.19 ERA in 20 relief appearances with Atlanta in 2009 (17.1IP, 21H, 10ER, 9BB, 10K, 1HR), holding first-batters-faced to a .158 (3-for-19) batting average. He also posted a 4-2 record with a 3.28 ERA (26H, 13ER, 17BB, 39K, 2HR) in 35.2 innings pitched with Triple-A Gwinnett. Prior to the season, he was acquired with Vazquez from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for infielder Brent Lillibridge, catcher Tyler Flowers, infielder Jon Gilmore and left-handed pitcher Santos Rodriguez. Originally drafted by the White Sox in the 20th round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft, Logan eventually signed with the club on May 26, 2003. Since making his Major League debut in 2006, Logan owns a 5-5 career record with a 5.78 ERA in 164 relief appearances (127.1IP, 158H, 82ER, 58BB, 102K, 17HR).

Cabrera, 25, set career highs with 28 doubles and 13 home runs in 2009, batting .274 (133-for-485) with 66R and 68 RBI in 154 games (130 starts). He tallied three “walk-off” hits in 2009, marking the most by a Yankee since Claudell Washington had four in 1988. On August 2 at the White Sox, he became just the 11th different Yankee – and first since Tony Fernandez on September 3, 1995 – to hit for the cycle. In 569 career games with the club, Cabrera batted .269 (518-for-1,923) with 250 runs, 90 doubles, 12 triples, 36 home runs, 228 RBI, 171 walks, a .331 on-base percentage and 38 outfield assists.

Dunn, 24, saw his first Major League action in 2009, posting a 6.75 ERA without recording a decision in four relief appearances as a September call-up (4.0IP, 3H, 3ER, 5BB, 5K, 1HR). He combined to go 4-3 with two saves and a 3.31 ERA in 38 relief appearances in 2009 with Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (73.1IP, 58H, 27ER, 46BB, 99K), allowing just two of his 12 inherited runners to score and making the Eastern League midseason All-Star team. Originally drafted by the Yankees in the 33rd round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, Dunn is 24-15 with a 3.62 ERA (375.1IP, 335H, 151ER, 166BB, 390K, 28HR) in 110 career minor league games (49 starts).

Vizcaino, 19, went 2-4 with a 2.13 ERA (42.1IP, 34H, 18R, 10ER, 15BB, 52K, 2HR) with Single-A Staten Island in 2009. He made his professional debut in 2008 with the Gulf Coast League Yankees, posting a 3-2 record with a 3.68 ERA (44.0IP, 38H, 22R, 18ER, 13BB, 48K, 5HR) in 12 games (six starts). Originally signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on July 2, 2007, from Yaguate, Dominican Republic, Vizcaino is 5-6 with a 2.92 ERA (86.1IP, 28ER) in 22 career minor league games (16 starts).

The Yankees’ 40-man roster now stands at 37 players.

So far this offseason Brian Cashman has traded for Curtis Granderson and (apparently) signed Nick Johnson and dealt for Javy Vazquez. All three moves addressed areas of weakness for the Yankees but, unlike many instances in the past, the team didn’t sacrifice a) financial flexibility going forward; and b) a tremendous amount of top minor league prospects.

With Johnson and Vazquez both on one year-deals, the Yankees aren’t hampering themselves when it comes to the inevitable discussions with Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, as well as their desire to swim in a 2011 free agent pool that could include Cliff Lee, Joe Mauer, Carl Crawford, Brandon Webb and others.

Also, the Yankees appear to be staying committed to retaining as much young talent as they can while also still being active in addressing current issues. As Tyler Kepner mentioned on Twitter, the Yankees used six prospects to get Granderson and Vazquez but  kept Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, Jesus Montero, Mark Melancon, Austin Romine and Zach McAllister. That’s pretty solid.

It’s also worth noting that, assuming Vazquez has a decent year, the Yankees can expect to get draft picks from whatever team signs him as a free agent next winter. So that will help them re-fill their prospect levels.

—–

Since there’s so much going on in the Yankees world today, we thought it’d be good to have a last-minute Live Chat so that Chad and I can take your questions. It won’t be a video chat, but we’ll have the live Q&A software set up right here in the blog at 3 p.m. so you can send in your questions for Chad and I to answer in real-time.

Make your plans now: 3 p.m., right here on the blog for a Q&A. Be there!

UPDATE, 11:56 a.m.: In other news, the Yankees reportedly agreed to a deal with minor-league catcher Mike Rivera. He batted .228 with two home runs and 14 RBIs in 41 games for Milwaukee and was non-tendered.

I mentioned in my post on the “mystery pitcher” last night that Javier Vazquez was a realistic option and now there are a few reports that Vazquez is squarely on the Yankees radar. A few interesting notes about a potential reunion with Vazquez:

• The Yankees once traded Nick Johnson (and others) to get Vazquez. Now they could end up with both on the same team.

• Despite his up-and-down time with the Yankees, Vazquez had no interest in playing anywhere but the East coast. He was very uncomfortable living in Arizona and has a limited no-trade clause that allows him to veto deals to the AL and NL West divisions. With family still living in Puerto Rico, Vazquez is happy on the East coast.

• The Yankees would be getting Vazquez with only one year remaining on his contract (so not a long-term obligation) and coming off a terrific year in which he went 15-10 with a 2.87 ERA and 238 strikeouts for the Braves. He finished fourth in NY Cy Young voting.

• Despite suffering from a terrible case of pink eye during the 2004 season – I remember having to write about it and wanting to stay far away – Vazquez has been healthy. He’s pitched 200-plus innings each of the five years since leaving New York and his 198 in 2004 is the only season of the last 10 in which he didn’t top that threshold. Not bad for someone who is supposed to be a middle-to-back-of-the-rotation starter in New York.

Fans will always remember Vazquez for his awful performance in Game 7 of the 2004 ALCS – and to be fair, that’s pretty hard to forget – but bringing him this winter makes sense on a lot of levels. With a rotation of CC, AJ, Pettitte, Vazquez and Hughes/Chamberlain (with the other one going to the bullpen), the Yankees pitching staff is formidable.

UPDATE, 9:40 a.m.: Sounds like the Yankees are shipping Melky Cabrera, LHP Mike Dunn and a lesser prospect to Atlanta for Vazquez and LHP Boone Logan (stats here). Interesting to see that Dunn is in the deal after the Yankees were determined to keep him out of the Granderson trade (though Logan, who they get coming back, is also a lefty). Can’t say I’m surprised to see Melky go. You had to figure either he or Gardner wouldn’t be around after the Granderson deal.

Initial reaction: Great deal for the Yankees. Strengthening starting pitching (which was clearly their last remaining weak point) for an extra OF and prospects while not sacrificing long-term financial flexibility is a coup for Brian Cashman.

UPDATE, 9:51 a.m.: Don’t forget that Yankees executives like president Randy Levine were the ones leading the charge for Randy Johnson after the 2004 season – Levine, not Cashman was the one who literally negotiated with Arizona – so it wasn’t as if Cashman was the one running Vazquez out of town originally. Cashman always liked him.

Also, this move seems to indicate that the Yankees are only interested in having one of the “kids” in the starting rotation this year. After years of debate, this may well be the end of the starter or reliever debate for Joba Chamberlain.

UPDATE, 10:02 a.m.: For the bargain price of Melky, Mike Dunn and (apparently) the other A-Rod, Arodys Vizcaino, Cashman has:

1. Given the Yankees rotation incredible depth.
2. Likely pushed the Yankees toward a resolution on the Joba to the pen question.
3. Retained financial flexibility for next offseason and beyond (Vazquez’s contract is up after 2010).
4. Relieved a glut of extra outfielders.

Not bad for one move. And no, I don’t believe for a second that Brett Gardner will be anywhere in the Yankees Opening Day outfield.

UPDATE, 10:10 a.m.: So who’s in left for the Yankees now? Obviously Johnny Damon is still out there but I think that ship has sailed (though, you never say never). Matt Holliday? Jason Bay?

Put it this way: This was a strong move for Cashman to make because it is WAY easier to find a reasonable option in left field than it is to find a starting pitcher – let alone one who finished fourth in Cy Young voting a year ago and offers an appealing contract. In essence, Cashman solved one problem (pitching) while not greatly changing another (left field was an issue even with Melky on the team).

UPDATE, 10:35 a.m.: Some (of many) outfield options: Holliday (obviously), Bay (obviously), Mark DeRosa, Jermaine Dye,  Marlon Byrd, Randy Winn, Rick Ankiel and – of course – Johnny Damon.