Why The Javier Freak Out

Reports today indicate that the Braves made their first big deal of the offseason coming to terms with the Chicago White Sox on a trade for RHP Javier Vazquez.

I've been browsing comments on all the fan blogs and websites and the overwhelming sentiment is that we gave up too much. To which I respond: huh?

Here is what we get:
A pitcher with a career .500 record a slightly below league average ERA who tosses just under 1K/IP and about 2BB/GS. A pitcher still reasonably young (32) who has started 32 games and thrown 200 Innings every year for the last decade without any history of injuries. A pitcher who has pitched well at Turner Field in his career and could thrive under a less pressuring manager than Ozzie Guillen (that is to say, anyone else).

Here is what we give up:
An A-Ball Catcher who hit the hell out of the ball in the AFL but struggles behind the plate.
A middle infielder who looked (like he is 11) way over his head at the ML level.
A LHP who was so terribly inconsistent that it didn't look like he would ever "figure it out" (Kyle Davies redux).
A throw in low A LHP who no one knew anything about.

So in essence we get 2 years of 200 IP with a league average ERA for 11 million per year and we give up nothing that would have started for our ball club the next 2 years. Additionally, none of the prospects for this deal were keys in a deal for Peavy. Not that I want to blow up our minor leagues to get him, but if Wren decides to do so he still has that option.

I, for one, am happy with a deal. It's a typical trade from strength to shore up a weakness and we do so without giving up anything more than true "prospects".