Wednesday, December 16, 2009



By Chuck Richter - AngelsWin.com Executive Editor


According to a reliable source, the Angels are talking to the Braves about starting pitcher Javier Vazquez. The Braves, however, would prefer to deal Derek Lowe (and his $45M contract). The names of the players in a potential deal are not known, but it is no secret the Braves are looking for a power hitting left fielder and are said to be interested in Juan Rivera.

Atlanta has six starting pitchers as it stands now: Jair Jurrjens, Tim Hudson, Derek Lowe, Javier Vazquez, Kenshin Kawakami and Tommy Hanson. Jurrjens and Hanson are considered untouchable and Tim Hudson just signed a three-year contract with the Braves.

Kawakami will not bring the Braves the solid power-hitting left fielder they're seeking in a trade. The Japanese right hander, who started 25 games for the Braves in 2009, finished the season in the bullpen after Hudson's return from the DL. Kawakami posted a solid 3.86 ERA and is considered a solid back of the rotation starter, a role in which the Braves envision Kawakami again in 2010 .

Atlanta needs to cut one of its two remaining high priced starters this offseason and both have been rumored to be available. Lowe is owed $15M each year through 2012. Vazquez is due to make $11.5M in 2010, the final year of his contract. He has a limited no-trade clause blocking deals to NL West and AL West clubs, however, casting doubt upon a deal to the Angels.

Juan Rivera would have to be involved in any deal for Vazquez, a player the Braves and Mets have been rumored to be after. Rivera has one of the best contracts in baseball for the amount of production he gives to a team. Rivera is set to make $4.25M in 2010 and $5.25M in 2011. The Braves have said they're going to give Jason Heyward a shot to make their club in spring training, either in right or center field, but they'd like to add another established outfielder to go along with Nate McClouth; one that could give them 25 home runs and a decent amount of RBI. This way they could start Heyward somewhere at the bottom of the order as they bring their top prospect along without any pressure while he gets Major League experience.

It is doubtful that the Angels will take Lowe's contract in any trade unless the Braves absorbed the remaining two years of Gary Matthews, Jr.'s albatross of a contract. Lowe's 1.52 WHIP and 232 hits allowed in 2009 wouldn't exactly play out well in the American League, however.

If Vazquez waives his no-trade clause to a West Coast team, the Angels would be getting a solid front-of-the-rotation starter. In nearly 220 innings pitched in 2009, Vazquez won 15 games, sported a sparkling 2.87 ERA and fanned 238 batters, good for second in the NL behind Tim Lincecum. Former GM now adviser Bill Stoneman, who knows Vazquez well from their days with the Montreal Expos, is said to have kept "in touch" with the right hander over the years since they both left Canada. It's possible a two- or three-year contract extension could entice the Vazquez camp to waive the no-trade clause.

If the Angels trade Rivera, they could look to add a free agent outfielder like Xavier Nady, Marcus Thames or Jonny Gomes on a one-year deal to fill the void in left field. The team could also find a trade partner, perhaps for a speedy outfielder who can lead off like Nyjer Morgan from the Nationals or Michael Brantley from the Indians.

Whatever the case may be, the Angels are most certainly not done this offseason. I expect a few more press conferences like the Hideki Matsui one we had today before pitchers and catchers report to Tempe. The Angels are a better team with a solid replacement for the departed John Lackey, rather than moving Weaver or Kazmir to the No. 1 spot and giving the ball to Matt Palmer every fifth day at the back end of the rotation. This would also allow the Angels top prospect Trevor Reckling to get a full season with the Salt Lake Bees in Triple-A and potentially replace Vazquez in the rotation in 2011.

As I learn more about this potential trade, I will update our readers here.
Love to hear what you think!

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4 comments:

Ellen Bell said...

Please oh Please oh Please let this be true. I love Vasquez! What are the chances of this actually happening?

Unknown said...

"Please oh Please oh Please let this be true. I love Vasquez! What are the chances of this actually happening?"

about 5%

The Braves do not want to trade him, plus he has a no trade clause to the AL/NL West teams. He doesn't want to be too far away from his family in Puerto Rico.

Twitta Blogga Dan said...

The Braves are not in any way shape or form taking on GMJ horrible contract. The only reason Lowe is being shopped is because of the salary relief that Atlanta is searching for. GMJ is an absolute horrible 4th OF.

If you actually look at the DEVELOPED MARKET for starting pitchers then you will see two key signings.
Wolf 3yr/30 mil
Lackey 5 yr/85 mil

Based on the market conditions it would be very easy to assume that Lowe is worth at least 12 million a year. In fact he is already valued at that. Even if his value depreciates over the next three years you are looking at a total value of 30 million.

If the angels choose to go after him at that price then he is priced correctly and will warrant a sufficient return. The braves only lose the value of return if the angels eat most of the contract. The more taken on the less they get back in return.

You also have to consider that the Yankees, Mets, and Nationals are looking for starting pitching and vazquez would be traded there and not the west coast.

It has also been established that vazquez wants an extentsion in Atl and has hinted at a discount to stay there. Thus a trade for Vazquez to the Angels would need to very big IF's to occur. First the Angels would have to agree to a very steep extension such as 15-16 million over 4-5 years that could bait vazquez to leave. Second, the angels would need to give up a very similar package that was asked for Lee in the recent trade. The braves will not want prospects and will require Juan R., Wood, and another high ceiling prospect. THUS DEFEATING THE POINT OF THE ANGELS TRYING TO GET BETTER.

Lowe or Ben Sheets will be the best you get this year. It's up to the big dawgs up top to decide whether they want to do that. If they pass on Lowe he will find a home somewhere else. You are not finding rumors on Lowe because Frank Wren learned his lesson last year. He is keeping everything close to the vest.

Lowe has value on the market at 12 million per year. He has more value in the NL but he does have value and despite the Angel's fans dismay with the past weeks events they are left with very few options to legitimately hold off the Mariners next year.

O.....and of course the angels are interested in Vazquez so is half the league. That's not news that's common knowledge.

Unknown said...

Well theY better do SOMETHING like this and fast1

I kind of suspect that they are waiting to see if they can get Chapman before they make any moves like this. They obviously would love to give up nothing and get a great pitcher if they had the choice.

I also haven't heard anything about the possibility of signing Tejada to play third base. It seems like a no-brainer for the Angels considering what they were willing to give up for him just a year ago.

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