Vazquez to the Yankees

As I am sure you have heard by now, the New York Yankees have made a deal to bring Javy Vazquez to the Bronx for his second tour of duty. In return, Atlanta will receive Bombers outfielder Melky Cabrera and a couple of young arms.

So, what in the world is going on here? New York clearly felt they had fallen behind the Red Sox in the "arms race". Adding Vazquez allows New York to have almost as deep a rotation as their bitter rival. It also allows them to leave either Phil Huges or Joba Chamberlain in the pen. (This was made even more necessary by shipping Brian Bruney to the Nats and Phil Coke to the Tigers in the Curtis Granderson trade. More on that later.)

While it definitely helps out the rotation, what does it do to the outfield depth? Cabrera seemed like the starting left fielder next season. They trade for Curtis Granderson made the Bombers younger in the outfield and allowed them to move on from Johnny Damon. Did the door just open back up to bringing the great hitting, soft throwing outfielder back? I think where there was seemingly a closed door, there may now be a slightly open window... but don't count on seeing Damon back in pinstripes just yet.

Jason Bay and Matt Holliday remain on the free agent market. How unlikely is it to think that Brian Cashman is eyeing the Mets troubles in offering Bay a fifth year? Or that Holliday has yet to pull the trigger with the Cardinals? I think the probability is high.

If the Bombers add either of these two players, it will be an embarassment of riches and the MLB should strongly reconsider pushing for a salary cap. Either or of the above players would provide New York with possibly their deepest line up ever and would see them getting incremently younger while still putting out the best team (on paper) in baseball. You would have a line up that sees Nick Swisher batting eighth.

Keep an eye on the two big name free agents now that left field is open for New York. Don't be surprised if Scott Boras is sitting on River Avenue right now, trying to wrap up a gift for the Steinbrenner's family Christmas.