Last year the Yankees’ #4 starter was Joba Chamberlain. In a year that can only be described as a disappointment in his development (setting aside the World Series Championship and all), Joba posted a 4.75 ERA over 157 innings- good for a measly 1.5 wins above replacement. With CC, AJ, and Andy all back in the fold, Joba will be bumped by Javier Vazquez.
We’ve already given the thumb’s up to Javy’s second tour of duty, but it’s hard to understate the increase in value here. Vazquez is coming off a career year where he was worth 6.6 WAR. While he can’t be expected to scale those heights again, he was remarkably consistent in the three years prior: 4.8, 5.1, and 4.8 WAR. Javy reasonably projects to be a 2.5 win upgrade in the rotation for the Bombers.
That makes him the biggest upgrade of the offseason to date — for any team in baseball.
The trade for Vazquez was BIG.
29 Comments
Peter Griffin January 3, 2010 12:39
R as in Robert Loggia
O as in Oh My God, it’s Robert Loggia
Bronx Blogger January 3, 2010 12:50
Yet most fans only remember the GS he gave up to Damon and have dismissed him already.
I’m sure they may even boo him his first day out.
So lame.
michael kay January 3, 2010 12:57
He will be harrassed until he “earns his pinstripes”. 1 bad pitch in relief and he “can’t handle new york”. Yeah just like AROD can’t perform in the play offs. Idiots.
Mike K January 3, 2010 13:06
It is ignorant to say that most fans will only remember the GS he gave up to Damon. He had 4 months of absolutely HORRID pitching. Among the worst pitching I have ever seen from any pitcher in pinstripes over an extended period of time.
To chastise us for not being able to forget it is silly. I have the image of Orioles parading around the bases indelibly etched in my brain, so deeply that no statistic in the world can wipe them out.
I don’t doubt the statistical wisdom, I just wonder (legitimately) if Cashman could not have found a different pitcher to provide a similar upgrade from Joba, or is he doing this because of his ego? As if to say, I never wanted to get rid of this guy, so I’ll bring him back just to prove i’m right?
they are fair concerns, and have nothing to do with johnny damon’s grand slam.
Phil J January 3, 2010 14:00
I agree with Mike K. Also, with the exception of 2007, the numbers he has put up in the AL don’t show him to be much of an upgrade over Joba at all. Of course, he’s going to cost us 10.5 million, while we’re supposed to be trying to pare down payroll. Interesting move…I hope it works out.
By the by, does anyone seem to notice how advanced statistical analysis tends to go out the window when concerning a pitcher changing leagues? A guy going from the NL to the AL East inevitably gets hammered like Matt Stairs’ a$$ after a pinch hit homerun…
Evilest Empire January 3, 2010 14:01
Cliff Lee.
Dan January 3, 2010 14:01
Not to discount this excellent trade, but biggest upgrade of them all? What about Cliff Lee?
Dan January 3, 2010 14:02
Evilest Empire can suck it
Evilest Empire January 3, 2010 14:08
Muahahaha. You lose.
Javier Vazquez January 3, 2010 14:43
Wait a tick…since Joba will be in the rotation anyway, as the 5th starter, wouldn’t my WAR be compared to the 32 starts Mitre, Wang, Hughes, Gaudin and Aceves made?
AlexCT January 3, 2010 15:09
to javy,
no it wouldn’t. with the exception of wang early in the season, those other guys were all no.5 starters. joba was the number 4. so you replace joba as the no 4, and joba takes the 5 spot.
Brian January 3, 2010 15:40
and Joba i am sure will pitch a lot better than Wang/Mitre/Gaudin so we get a couple of more wins out of the 5 spot as well
we have arguably the best rotation in baseball
12to6 January 3, 2010 17:43
Phil J – The Yankees basically did make a cost cutting move by getting Vazquez. I believe he’s due $11.5 mil for the 2010 season. However, you must take into the account the raise that Melky was going to get. Melky was going to get probably $3 million for 2010.
11,500,000 – 3,000,000 = $8,500,000 for 1 season.
$8.5 mil for a pitcher of that quality is an absolute steal. Then count in the draft picks he’ll most likely net us. That in itself is worth the money being spent on him. The Yanks may have added $11.5 mil on the payroll, but it doesn’t take into account the $$ saved from Melky. $8.5 mil for a guy who is a lock for 200 innings and was fantastic last year, plus the loss of guys like Coke. It’s saving money in the long run. In the end Cashman got Vazquez for a discount. He may be penny pinching, but at least he’s making smart moves. The key to building a championship is to spend the money WISELY. I bet every other team in baseball is kicking themselves for not trying to get Vazquez for a deal like the Yankees got him for.
Billy Shears January 3, 2010 18:53
Vazquez has pitched in front of some poor defenses since 2004. The teams he has been on during that time have had an average ranking of 19.5 in defensive efficiency. The Yankees were ranked 7th this past season. They will probably be in the top ten again this season and maybe pitching in front of a solid defense will help Vazquez pitch to his peripherals.
Floyd La Fleur January 3, 2010 20:35
Right on it Bill Shears, even though Javy has a history of underachieving in relation to his peripherals, starters with consistent FIPs of less than 4 and 200IP are worth their weight in gold.
Javy’s AL numbers with the white sox are fine when you considered the shitty D those teams had.
The 2010 outfield defence projects to be strong which will no doubt help Javy’s performance. Great trade
Javier Vazquez January 3, 2010 20:41
So…………how do you accurately calculate the WAR for me over those other dunderheads? Do you take the mean of my WAR over Joba and his WAR over them? Liiiiiiiiike, if I’m 1.7 over him and he’s 2.1 over them, does that make it 1.9 for me in the rotation instead of those peeps?
Kevin S. January 3, 2010 21:16
You calculate it over whatever we could have reasonably expected the loser of the Joba/Phil ST battle to have performed as the fifth starter, less what that guy adds to the bullpen, if he goes there and not AAA (which I think Hughes should do if he loses, to build innings and be ready to step in if injury occurs).
Mr. Faded Glory January 3, 2010 23:08
I expect the Yankees to put Hughes into the rotation anyway.
Backup D3 Center January 3, 2010 23:55
Evilest and Dan. Check out fangraph WAR values for Cliff Lee and J. Washburn the pitcher he is replacing in the Mariners rotation.
RustyJohn January 4, 2010 01:28
I think it still goes to C. Lee- the only reason Washburn was as successful as he was last year was because the M’s replaced Raul Ibanez in left field (a glove on a broom stick placed into the ground has more range) with Endy Chavez. Franklin G replaced whoever the hell they had in center last year and Frankie G is the best defensive center fielder in the league. Now, take Cliff Lee who last year had Victorino and (hey!) Ibanez playing center and left and replace them with Frankie G and Saunders…
Butcher January 4, 2010 07:50
Cliff Lee is a way bigger move. No comparison. That being said…Javy is a nice upgrade. Here’s to hoping they finally stop babying Joba in the 5th spot.
JoeThunder January 4, 2010 08:20
I think Javier Vazquez will do just fine in 2010. Didn’t we go through this already on a different post?
swedski January 4, 2010 11:40
Mr Faded
Why Put Hughes in the rotation? Yanks spent a whole year stretching Joba and now we lose ‘The Rules’. How are they going to put Hughes in and then play that game again in September.
I like JV!
Should be a great year with a great rotation
Philip January 4, 2010 16:48
It’s an Upgrayedd with two D’s for a Double Dose of dis pimpin
MytriState yankees January 4, 2010 17:41
Even if Javy’s ERA goes up by an entire run (and most NL to AL transfers are usually around .75, not an entire run) and he pitches 200 innings, he’s a HUGE pickup for the Yankees and the balance of power between the Red Sox and Yankees has clearly tipped toward the Yankees. after the Red Sox signing of John Lackey, you have to admit, you were worried a bit about their rotation. Red Sox offense has issues, though…
Mustarded dog January 5, 2010 00:14
Grab Johny Gomes while you still can, where else you going to find a RH power bat for the bench, plus Nick Johnson is Fragile and that dont mean Italian.
Brawndo the thirst mutilator January 5, 2010 13:32
what about a felipe lopez or something that could be a sexy super utility switchy speedy guy
Opi Yunated January 5, 2010 17:53
Put hughes in the rotation, and put joba in teh ATE!1 Joba+ Robertson + Marte + Melancon + Mo = One Hellacious Bullpen.
Ha Ha Ha I love counting!
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