George Steinbrenner seems to love what he sees in the National League East. There's Sheffield from the Braves and now Vasquez from Montreal (for Nick Johnson and Juan Rivera ++), let's hope he turns next to Philadelphia and scoops up Millwood!

 

Then of course is his fascination with the Dodgers, just keep raiding the NL George. The weaker he makes other teams in our division, in our league the better off the Marlins are.

 

Here's the Associated Press piece on the trade via ESPN -

 

 

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Thursday, December 4, 2003

 

 

ESPN.com news services

The New York Yankees have begun the rebuilding of their starting rotation after the Montreal Expos agreed Thursday to trade right-hander Javier Vazquez, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reports.

 

 

The Yankees will send first baseman Nick Johnson, outfielder Juan Rivera and left-handed reliever Randy Choate to Montreal, Stark reports.

 

 

The deal is contingent on the players passing physicals. Montreal scheduled a 2 p.m. ET news conference to make "a major baseball announcement."

 

 

The Yankees would like to negotiate an extension for Vazquez, who is eligible for free agency after next season. Montreal, which is owned by Major League Baseball's 29 teams, is faced with payrolls limits and Vazquez, eligible for salary arbitration, will likely get a raise from the $4,775,000 he made in 2003 after losing his hearing.

 

 

Vazquez fills one of the holes in the Yankees' starting rotation. He went 13-12 with a 3.24 ERA for the Expos last season, and is three years younger than Bartolo Colon, who is a free agent. The Yankees also were interested in signing the right-hander.

 

 

New York's rotation, the backbone of its run to four World Series titles and six AL pennants since 1995, needs retooling with Roger Clemens retired, and Andy Pettitte and David Wells free agents. Wells had back surgery Tuesday.

 

 

The Yankees' rotation has Vazquez, Mike Mussina, Jose Contreras, Jeff Weaver and Jon Lieber, who hasn't pitched in the major leagues since reconstructive elbow surgery in August 2002 but hopes to be ready for the start of the season. The Yankees have talked to the Dodgers about acquiring Kevin Brown for Weaver.

 

 

Johnson, 25, played first base for much of last season because of Jason Giambi's knee injury, and started the season as the regular designated hitter. While he's regarded as a top hitter -- he batted .284 with 14 homers, 47 RBI and a .422 on-base percentage -- he has been injury prone throughout his career.

 

 

Rivera, 25, hit .266 with seven homers and 26 RBI in 173 at-bats and has a strong throwing arm.

 

 

Choate, 28, pitched only 3 2/3 innings over five relief appearances for the Yankees last season, compiling a 7.36 ERA. He went 3-5 with one save and a 3.91 ERA in 54 games at Triple-A Columbus.

 

 

Johnson is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time while Rivera isn't yet eligible. New York will have to find another backup first baseman to spell Giambi, who had knee surgery after the season.

 

 

Meanwhile, the Yankees are pushing ahead on the Gary Sheffield front.

 

 

Sheffield met Monday and Tuesday with Yankees owner George Steinbrenner at the team's spring training complex in Tampa, Fla., and worked out Wednesday at the Yankees' minor league complex. The free-agent outfielder appears likely to sign on his agreed-to three-year offer from the Yankees -- he might have a physical Thursday, a sign that a deal is approaching.

 

 

In other news Wednesday, left-handed reliever Felix Heredia agreed to a $3.8 million, two-year contract to stay with the Yankees. Heredia was 0-1 with a 1.20 ERA in 12 appearances with the Yankees, who claimed him off waivers from Cincinnati on Aug. 25.

 

 

Heredia had a $1.7 million player option for 2004, which he declined. His new deal calls for $1.8 million salaries in each of the next two seasons and gives the Yankees a $2.5 million option for 2006 with a $200,000 buyout.

 

 

New York also is trying to re-sign Gabe White, another left-handed reliever. Chris Hammond, signed last offseason as a left-handed setup man, may be traded.

 

 

The Yankees also are close to a $6 million, two-year agreement with right-hander Paul Quantrill, who played for the Dodgers last season. Backup catcher John Flaherty has agreed to a $775,000, one-year contract, but must pass a physical for the deal to be finalized.

 

Vasquez Story Link

I think the Expos got a good end of the deal too though. Remember, Vazquez pitches only 1 out of 5 days. Johnson's a great hitter and he'll play everyday, plus it gives them enough money to probably sign Vlad. And if Vlad leaves too, then they have some serious money to throw around at some FA's.

whats Montreals payroll projection for next year?

Theres no way they are going to resign Vlad. He can sign wherever he wants after sunday, just like pudge right?

 

Best case senario is that

Braves lose Shef, Lopez, Maddox and someone else

Expos lose Vlad and Vazquez

Phillies lose Millwood

Marlins resign Pudge

 

If that happens we have to be the favorites to win the division, if we arent already...

There's a curse. The braves will continue to win the division as long as the continue to not win the world series...you'll have to settle for wild card!

There's a curse. The braves will continue to win the division as long as the continue to not win the world series...you'll have to settle for wild card!

No problem....we've won two World Series as the Wild Card.

Looks like the National League is going to become the Eastern Conference of MLB.

 

But this isnt a bad trade for the Expos because they get a great hitter in Nick Johnson who Gammons says and many do that he was the best pure hitter on the Yankees team, Nick had a .420 OBP, I'm sure Billy Beane would have loved to have this guy. Plus they get a quality player in Juan Rivera.

I would give the edge to the Yankes, but the Expos did good in the deal.

 

Still though they wont compete. There Lineup will be deflated and the Rotation being lead by Livan Hernandez

Still though they wont compete. There Lineup will be deflated and the Rotation being lead by Livan Hernandez

i wouldnt count them out.

Still though they wont compete. There Lineup will be deflated and the Rotation being lead by Livan Hernandez

i wouldnt count them out. well sure you cant now. But imo they just dont have enough to compete down the stretch. But i am looking at Hernandez having 10-17 wins

Montreal still gets a hell of a player in Johnson.

 

It really is a shame what has happened to Montreal. I mean, if they had money, their '04 rotation would be sick.

Nick Johnson has practically missed time in every year since his baseball career started in highschool. His hand is very fragile, but he's a gamble- an injury gamble. He has great skill, but he just strikes out against good pitching. Sure, he's young and will improve, but he keeps getting injured. If the Yanks signs Vazquez long term for a decent price, then the trade was worth it, especially because the Yanks already threw the oppurtunity to spend responsibly out the window.

 

NJ is a gamble, a gamble I personally would of took. However, don't underestimate NJ's injury plague.

 

Juan Rivera and Choate are underrated, and they will help the expos very much so.

for Juanky (Eischen liker) Its rumored that aquiring Choate will make Eischen avalable in 2003 and be let go in 2004

It looks like the Montreal Expos is returning to normal in terms of marketing. They recently ended a bidding war between long-time French radio rights holder CKAC-AM and new rights-holder CKOO-FM which will give the Expos a French Radio Network with FM affiliates in Quebec and nationwide carriage of the signal in Canada on StarChoice (small dish like Dish Network or DirecTV.)

 

English radio is next and it is getting close to being done.

 

English and French TV is almost done with CFCF-TV in Montreal carrying some games in English along TSN (Canadian ESPN) and RDS in French.

 

This money may help the Expos, along with the split-schedule to help keep some payroll and a competitive team.

for Juanky (Eischen liker) Its rumored that aquiring Choate will make Eischen avalable in 2003 and be let go in 2004

:thumbup