Braves send Vazquez to the Yankees

Yankees GM Brian Cashman did not wait long to acquire a starting pitcher. After openly stating yesterday that the Yankees were interested in acquiring a starting pitcher, Cashman pulled off a trade this morning for fire-baller Javier Vazquez. Vazquez is coming off a career year after posting a 2.87 ERA AND 238 strikeouts.

The Braves are sending RP Boone Logan along with Vazquez and will receive OF Melky Cabrera, LHP Mike Dunn and 19-year old prospect Arodys Vizcaino. The Yankees have agreed to pay all of Vazquez's salary and will send $500,000 to the Braves.

In Cabrera, the Braves get a career .290 lead-off hitter and above average fielder who can play any position in the outfield. Mike Dunn posted 99 strikeouts in 73 1/3 innings in minor-league ball. Vicaino was the #3 prospect in the Yankees organization and has a low-90's fastball and great curveball. Vizcaino could be a sleeper in this deal. He has all the makings of a closer, fanning 52 batters in 42 1/3 innings while only issuing 15 walks. Vizcaino was also ranked as the #3 prospect in the New York-Penn league.

With the departure of Vazquez, the Braves still have six players capable of starting: Derek Lowe, Tommy Hanson, Jair Jurrjens, Tim Hudson, Kenshin Kawakami and Kris Medlen. I'll even go as far to throw in Jo-Jo Reyes into that mix. The question is who will be the ace of this team? Jurrjens is coming off a stellar season but is he ready to become the star of this pitching staff or should we stick with a veteran and go with Hudson or Lowe?

Hanson to make Braves Debut on Sunday

With all of the roster changes, there has been alot of craziness going around the Braves locker room. From the release of the veteran Glavine, to the addition of All-Star CF Nate McLouth, to the calling up of young potential ace Tommy Hanson, the Braves are sitting pretty in the NL East! Hanson, named the #1 prospect in all of baseball, will be facing a tough lineup in the Milwaulkee Brewers Sunday. He needs to go up and try to get groundballs, and not have the usual mindstate of "striking everyone out". He's gonna need to be able to handle his excitement of pitching in the majors in order to translate into a successful outing. I look forward to seeing how he will perform. With the Braves 5.5 games back, Hanson isn't under too much pressure, which should help his mind-set headed into the game. 

With encouraging teammates such as Derek Lowe, Brian McCann, and Chipper Jones, Hanson should receive the motivation needed to mow down the hitters. If he's able to pull-off a quality start, it could be a bright sign for the Braves future! 

Braves trade for Nate McLouth...Hanson to start Saturday

The Atlanta Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates have reached an agreement to trade for outfielder Nate McLouth. Nate McLouth is coming off a terrific 2008 season in which he tallied 26 HR's and 96 RBI's while maintaing a .276 batting average. In 2008 he lead the National League in doubles with 46, was sixth in the majors in runs scored and won a Gold Glove. 

According to an MLB official the Braves are sending Charlie Morton, Gorkys Hernandez and Jeff Locke to Pittsburgh for All-Star Nate McLouth. 

McLouth did sign a three-year extension with the Pirates in February. Here is the breakdown: 

2009 - $3.5 million ($2 million base and $1.5 million bonus)

2010 - $4.5 million

2011 - $7.75 million ($6.5 million base with $1.25 million buyout in 2012)

2012 - $9.4 million club option

Frank Wren did suggest that he will be a leadoff hitter; my guess is Bobby will utilize him as leadoff when McCann is in the lineup and bat him cleanup when McCann has the day off. 

As for Tommy Hanson; the Braves top pitching prospect is getting the call to the big-leagues. He will start Saturday vs. the Brewers. Hanson will move into the rotation as the 5th starter and his roommate will be Kris Medlen. Tommy has been fantastic pitching for Gwinnett posting a 1.49 ERA while striking out 90 batting and only issuing 17 walks in 66 1/3 innings.

Braves add Veteran OF....Chipper Talks about Tommy Hanson

The Braves and 14-year veteran Garrett Anderson reached a one-year agreement today. The deal is believed to be worth $2.5 million. The signing comes only a fews days after the Bravos missed out of Ken Griffey Jr. (in case you missed out on the drama of that saga, the episode will be re-aired on Oxygen Network sometime this week) An official announcement of the Anderson signing could come as early as Monday morning. Anderson is expected to join the Braves in beautiful Lake Buena Vista, Florida for Spring Training this week. Bobby Cox raved about Garret Anderson in an interview earlier this week. Cox said, "He's got one of the sweetest swings baseball. He's a guy you want up with the game on the line, and he uses all field. I hope we get him." As Hank Hill always says "Dangit Bobby!", we'll guess what, you got your man! 

Anderson is a career .296 hitter and has drove in 80+ RBI's eight of the past nine seasons. Anderson may not be the home run threat he once was but is still capable of hitting 15-20 HR's with under 500 AB's. Anderson will platoon at LF with Matt Diaz.  Oh by-the-way, did I mention Anderson is three-time All Star, winner of the 2003 Home Run Derby, two-time Silver Slugger and is a member of the "Top 500 Home-Run hitters of All Time." 

As for 6-6 Tommy Hanson, Chipper Jones absolutely raved about this kid in a interview with AJC.com Braves beat-writer David O'Brien. Chipper said this about Tommy's control, "Very impressive. He's probably got the best stuff of anybody in this clubhouse, he throws 93-94 with good movement. Great slider. You're talking about a kid that young who can command four pitches. To do what he did in the Arizona Fall League, which has never been done... pretty impressive kid." In the A.F.L. league Hanson made five starts. He posted a 5-0 record, 0.63 E.R.A., and struck out  49 hitters in 28.2, yes 28.2 innings. There's no typo there folks this kid is the real-deal. Oh and don't forget about the no-hitter Tommy threw in Class AA for the Mississippi Braves, while striking out 13 batters. 

Folks, Chipper has been around the league for 14-years and has been teammates with future H.O.F. pitchers such as Greg Maddux, John Smoltz and Tom Glavine. Those are some pretty strong words coming from a guy of Chipper notoriety. 

Hanson is currently aBn's #2 prospect in the Braves organization and a strong showing in Spring Training could definitely benefit Hanson for an attempt to make the Braves roster mid-season this year. 

What type of numbers do ya'll expect from Anderson this year? What do ya'll think about Tommy Hason? Is a stud is he going to be a bust?