Javier Vazquez

[Jofis11ep]

According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN, the Brewers have contacted the Atlanta Braves about Javier Vazquez. The Braves say he is in the market, but it is speculating that they will ask for either Gamel or Escobar.

 

He would be an upgrade over a couple of our starters and would be signed through next year. But at $11.5 million next year, is this just another Suppan? He is solid and hopefully the Braves will lower their offer and eat some of the salary, but with that contract and one of our "studs" involved I hope Doug does not do this deal. At least he is looking for pitching, if nothing else.

[sargennm]

According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN, the Brewers have contacted the Atlanta Braves about Javier Vazquez. The Braves say he is in the market, but it is speculating that they will ask for either Gamel or Escobar.

 

He would be an upgrade over a couple of our starters and would be signed through next year. But at $11.5 million next year, is this just another Suppan? He is solid and hopefully the Braves will lower their offer and eat some of the salary, but with that contract and one of our "studs" involved I hope Doug does not do this deal. At least he is looking for pitching, if nothing else.

It's an ESPN.com insider article under MLB Baseball Rumors, if anyone is interested. If they want Gamel, Lawrie or Escobar, I say no deal. Anyone else, and I would probably pull the trigger. I think the top propsects are too much for Vazquez, even with his remarkable year, his contract cost, his age and the fact that out of the last six seasons he's only had two above average seasons all makes me a little nervous.

[jjfanec]

I wonder if they would be interested in Corey Hart. There is no way he is worth Lawrie, Escobar, or Gamel. While he probably wont continue with the numbers he has I think even if he slips to a 3.75 ERA he would still be very valuable. Having a rotation of Gallardo, Vazquez, Bush, Suppan and Looper, with a potential of Parra coming too would make me feel pretty good about our chances.

[lcbj68c]

11.5M? Only if they take Bill Hall with whoever it is. IMO, Clay Buchholz is the best answer.

[brewmann04]

I hope Melvin sticks to his Guns and keeps these youngsters the only way you move one of those kids is for Halladay or Peavy.

[sargennm]

Hart would be the natural fit, although it's unclear whether he would necessarily be a significant upgrade over Francoeur, given the streaky nature of his offense. "There are times when he just looks like he has no clue," said one longtime talent evaluator. "I've seen him this season when he's looked absolutely lost." Hart, 27, is hitting .246 and nine homers, and if Milwaukee talked about a possible Hart/Vazquez swap, the Brewers would obviously have to include another really nice piece in the deal.

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4305723&name=olney_buster

[jjfanec]

11.5M? Only if they take Bill Hall with whoever it is. IMO, Clay Buchholz is the best answer.

What do we have that would get Clay Buchholz? He would take much more to get than Vazquez in my mind.

[Brian the Automator]

Wow, just seems like a bad idea. Vazquez is a pretty extreme flyball pitcher, and he's not exactly cheap. His K/BB ratio is the highest of his career this year, but I'm not sure why I would expect that to continue at age 32.

 

Definitely not worth a Gamel or an Escobar.

[brewmann04]

Totally agree Keep our Best Prospects and move on .

[sargennm]

For what it's worth, from TH's blog:

NEW UPDATE: I JUST SPOKE WITH BREWERS GENERAL MANAGER DOUG MELVIN AND HE SAID HE IS NOT DISCUSSING A TRADE WITH ATLANTA GM FRANK WREN FOR JAVIER VAZQUEZ.

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/50052147.html

[snyttri]

With the White Sox he had a reputation for pitching his best in low pressure situations, like '07 for the Sox and the current Braves season. He had his best season for the 101 win '04 Yankees, but he has an ERA over 10 for his 15 post-season innings. He may be worth his salary but probably not valuable assets for future seasons.

[lcbj68c]

TH just spoke with Doug Melvin. Melvin is reportedly golfing and shopping for X-mas presents for his kids after that. Inbetween stops at the Country Club and Saks, he is planning a six week vacation to commence Oct. 4th and end just before Thanksgiving. Rumour has it, he wont be busy.

[TooLiveBrew]

For what it's worth, from TH's blog:

NEW UPDATE: I JUST SPOKE WITH BREWERS GENERAL MANAGER DOUG MELVIN AND HE SAID HE IS NOT DISCUSSING A TRADE WITH ATLANTA GM FRANK WREN FOR JAVIER VAZQUEZ.

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/50052147.html

My initial reaction is to say, 'Phew!' ... but then I remember the frequency of Doug-Davis-to-MIL talk.

[wibadgers23]

Yeah, I highly doubt Melvin was being completely truthful with TH. He isn't going to come right out and say that he is talking with Atlanta about Vazquez. There has to be some validity to the reports that they are talking. I also wonder if Melvin asked Atlanta about Vazquez and they asked for either Gamel or Escobar in return and the talks ended there.

[The Truth]

You cannot gamble away the future of the Brewers (Escobar-Gamel-Lawrie) for any one pitcher because any one pitcher is not going to make the Brewers a contender for a World Series championship. I mean, seriously, is our goal just to make the playoffs or to win it all? With streaky hitters like Hart-Hardy-Cameron and the apparent demise of Bill Hall, this Brewers team looks like it would have to have lights out pitching to win it all. I mean really, does adding Vasquez, with this current lineup (minus possibly Gamel) make you think we're going to the World Series?

 

If you want to win now you go the Marlins route and you trade away Gamel-Escobar-Lawrie plus some young pitching and you get Vasquez and Harden or Halladay. And then you have one of the worst teams in baseball in 2011.

 

You simply cannot trade Escobar, because Hardy will be a free agent soon enough and imho not at all worth signing longterm, considering his streakiness and (in my opinion) his lack of durability likely becoming an issue in coming years. Plus Escobar is a better fielder and faster and because of his youth you have him for 5-6 years at least.

 

If we absolutely must trade for one pitcher to appease fans and keep our hopes up, maybe limp into the playoffs and then say "anything can happen in a 5 or 7 game series" and hope that the stars align and all our streaky hitters get hot at once, then deal Hardy and/or Hart, not our future...

[barbados73]

Not saying that he is available, but more just wondering if people would give up Gamel or Escobar for a Josh Johnson type pitcher. Johnson would be under control at somewhat reasonable contract for a couple of years. I still think a Hardy for Buchholz based deal makes the most sense, but I would think that Brewers would have to add a bat also to make up for going from Hardy to Escobar.

[twobrewers]

Yeah, I highly doubt Melvin was being completely truthful with TH. He isn't going to come right out and say that he is talking with Atlanta about Vazquez.

I'm not trying to pick on you - but rather pointing this out. It has become a pet peeve of mine.

 

Melvin is very honest with the press. If Melvin says they aren't talking - they aren't talking. When Melvin is working on a trade he will just remain silent on the topic with TH.

 

I think Lawrie for Vazquez is a pretty fair deal, actually.

[brewmann04]

I hope this is true if the braves want either Gamel or Escobar.

[lcbj68c]

You cannot gamble away the future of the Brewers (Escobar-Gamel-Lawrie) for any one pitcher because any one pitcher is not going to make the Brewers a contender for a World Series championship.

 

I agree to some extent. To another extent, getting to the playoffs is really all you need. Then you just need a hot 3 weeks and be 1 game better than your opponent for 3 series. It's not like the NBA where you know an 8 seed isn't going to win it all. All you need to do is get to the show and then see what happens. If 1 pitcher makes them better enough to make the show, then I think you have to make that move within reason.

[southpaw121505]

I'd like Vasquez but not for Escobar, Gamel or Lawrie.

[Mr QL]

I wouldn't be 100% trading one of our prospects for a starter we could make a run with but Vazquez sure as heck aint one. Just say no.

[Never Outhustled]

I'm suprised so many are anti-Vazquez. His value has been averaging about 5 wins a year, thats tremendous. Plus, he's signed through next year. Hart and a non-elite prospect makes alot of sense. Taylor Green would fit the Braves future needs real well.

[trwi7]

I'm suprised so many are anti-Vazquez.

I don't think anybody is anti-Vazquez. They're just anti-Vazquez if it's going to cost Gamel, Escobar or Lawrie.

[nate82]

If the trade is Hall, Hart, and a minor prospect for Vazquez and Francouer I wouldn't mind the trade at all. The Braves are only on the hook for the rest of Hall's contract this year and next years there is an option for Hall in '11 but that is a team option with a $500k buyout. I believe the rest of the year Vazquez is owed $23mil over the next two years plus the rest of this year. The salary exchange of Hall and Hart plus a minor prospect should be enough to offset the value that Vazquez has for the Braves. I wouldn't be surprised though if it is a straight up Hart for Vazquez trade though.

[southpaw121505]

No idea why they'd take Hall