Grading the Trade: Yankees-Braves

The Trade: Atlanta sends SP Javier Vasquez + RP Boone Logan to the Yankees for OF Melky Cabrera + RP Michael Dunn + SP Arodys Vizcaino(Prospect).

Yankees: Grade A. On the surface, this trade looks lopsided in favor of the Yankees. The Yanks certainly did well in it. They add a veteran starter who is at least as good as John Lackey for a fraction of the salary commitment. All they give up is an average, expendable OF and a young prospect. The Yankees only need prospects for this kind of trade, so it's not like they are mortgaging their future. They can keep on buying the best players indefinitely.

Braves: Grade B. The Braves had 6 starting pitchers, Vasquez, Derek Lowe, Jair Jurrjens, Tim Hudson, Tommy Hanson and Kenshin Kawakami, so one was expendable. They really wanted to trade Derek Lowe, but couldn't find any takers for his contract. As for what they got in return, Cabrera is an upgrade from Garrett Anderson who was only slightly worse with the bat, but a terrible fielder. Cabrera is not a great fielder, but projects as league average on defense whatever position he takes. Dunn is a lefty reliever who had huge strikeout rates but control issues in the minors: 4-3, 3.31, 73 IP, 46 BB, 99 K's. He projects as a valuable bullpen arm if he can keep the walks under control. The key to the trade from the Braves perspective is the prospect, Arodys Vizcaino. He just turned 19 yo after the season, and dominated the short season New York-Penn league: 2-4, 2.13, 42 IP, 15 BB, 52 K's with a 1.34 GO/AO. Vizcaino sports a mid 90's fastball along with a hammer curveball. His changeup is a work in progress. Vizcaino was ranked as the #3 Yankee prospect by Baseball America.

The Yankees continue to add pretty much any player they choose, regardless of salary. The Braves strengthened themselves for the long term and are probably no worse and maybe slightly better in the short term. They probably got as much for Vasquez as they could expect without paying part of his salary or including a pretty good prospect or two of their own in the deal. Good trade for both sides!

Fantasy Impact: Minimal. Cabrera is probably not a guy you want to roster except in deeper leagues. Vasquez will likely have a higher ERA, but more W's in New York.