Sox Move Vazquez

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Dec 3, 2008 3:00PM

At times impressive, at others infuriating, Javier Vazquez came to town in the afterglow of the White Sox World Series title and seemed to ensure that the White Sox would have a rotation on which to build a dynasty. But Vazquez never fulfilled his promise on the South Side. GM Kenny Williams has finally had enough, and found a willing trading partner in the Atlanta Braves -- a deal that ships Vasquez and Boone Logan to Atlanta in return for four prospects.

Chicagoist questioned the contract extension Williams gave Vazquez just prior to the start of the '07 season, at nearly $12 million a year. At the time, the Sox GM justified the move: "He should have won 17 games for us last year ['06]. If he had the same run support as a few of the others in the rotation and, aside from…his troubles in the fifth or sixth [innings], he easily could have won five or six [more] games."

But those troubles in the middle innings continued to plague Vazquez. We can't even count how many times we'd watch him pitch and look unhittable for the first half of the game, only to come undone later in the game. Which helps to explain his 38-36 record and 4.40 ERA during his Sox tenure. His 2007 campaign, in which he went 15-8 with a 3.74 ERA suggested maybe he'd finally figured out how to pitch deep into a game, but last season he slid backward and finished four games under .500 on a playoff team.

In return for Vasquez, the Sox land catching prospect Tyler Flowers, speedy infielder Brent Lillibridge, third baseman Jon Gilmore and left-handed pitcher Santos Rodriguez. Flowers is considered a top catching prospect, a position that the Sox are thin at throughout the organization. Lillibridge has shown good speed in the minors, stealing 128 bases in four minor league seasons. While none of the acquisitions are likely to contribute to the Sox's success in 2009, the trade frees up millions of dollars in salary for the Sox. With the Winter Meetings approaching and free agency in full swing, the move gives Williams a ton of flexibility to fill the team's other needs.

Image via WhiteSox.com