Javier Vazquez
Rumors

The Tigers payroll was over $115M in 2009 and despite a competitive playoff run to the very end of the season, the team is looking to pare down its payroll for 2010 and moving Miguel Cabrera could save the team a lot of money.  Detroit has already openly shopped outfielder Curtis Granderson ($23.75M left on his contract from 2010-2012) and pitcher Edwin Jackson (arbitration eligible and due for a big raise) and not recieved too many bites.  Cabrera's contract blows away that of Granderson and Jackson, as he's set to make the following in each year of his deal: 10:$20M, 11:$20M, 12:$21M, 13:$21M, 14:$22M, 15:$22M. 

Despite being owed $126M over the next six years, there will still be interest in Cabrera because of his immense productivity.  Some potentially interested teams include:

Red Sox: David Ortiz and Mike Lowell come off the books after 2010 and if the Red Sox can convince the Tigers to give them some financial relief in 2010, the money might work out.

Angels: When Cabrera was traded from Florida to Detroit, the Angels were heavily involved in the bidding and would be happy to take Cabrera now, two years later.

Mets: With Carlos Delgado's likely departure, the Mets have a hole at first base that Cabrera could fill.

White Sox: Similar to the Red Sox, the White Sox remove Paul Konerko from the books after 2010 and Cabrera would fill in nicely.

Giants: They are in desperate need of offense, but already have two big contracts in Barry Zito and Aaron Rowand and would need to put Pablo Sandoval somewhere.

Mariners: Resigning Felix Hernandez is their priority, but Cabrera would be a big addition to their anemic offense.

Braves: Much like the Giants, they could really use the offensive help, but may lack the financial flexilibity to bring on Cabrera.  Moving Derek Lowe or Javier Vazquez would allieviabe some financial constraints.

Financial reasons will force the Tigers to try and move Miguel Cabrera this off season

Jayson Stark from espn.com has a new article up with plenty of off season rumors.

• Milton Bradley appears to have three different suitors: Rays, Rangers and Jays. However, Bradley is owed $21M over the remainder of his contact, so the Cubs will likely have to take on a bad contract in return.
• The Marlins had discussions about trading Dan Uggla with the Giants and Rangers.
• Rather than bid on Jason Bay or Matt Holliday, the Yankees seem content to try and resign Johnny Damon or Hideki Matsui.
• Derek Lowe's contract is becoming burdensome for the Braves, especially as they look to extend Javier Vazquez. They'll try to move Lowe and hope to get a hitter in return for him.
• The Phillies are considering Placido Polanco, Mark DeRosa and Adrian Beltre at third base.

Johnny Damon is an off season priority for the Yankees

John Lackey is the only top of the rotation starter available in free agency, but that does not mean he'll be the only ace-level pitcher to change teams this off season.  As teams like the Blue Jays and Braves enter rebuilding phases, big names pitchers like Roy Halladay and Javier Vazquez could are viable trade options.  But, which teams would be interested and able to acquire top pitching talent?  Buster Olney of espn.com evaluates:

Milwaukee Brewers

CC Sabathia is an exhibt of both why the Brewers could be looking for a big name pitcher and why they can't afford to get one.  On one had, it was just a year ago that they offered Sabathia $100M in free agency, perhaps enough to land Lackey.  On the other hand, in order to acquire Sabathia, they seriously depleted their farm system and that makes taking a run at Halladay and Vazquez difficult. 

Texas Rangers

Back in July when Roy Halladay rumors were dominating the headlines, the Rangers were one of the most logical choices for Halladay to be traded to, but financial concerns killed any chance of the move going through.  The Rangers have alleviated their financil difficulty (for now, anyway) and still have a wealth of prospects to trade for Halladay or Vazquez.  Olney mentions that there have been rumors of the Braves and Rangers discussing a deal for Vazquez already.  Even if the Rangers do not want to part with their young talent, Lackey could still be an option for a team that seems to be a pitcher away.

Los Angeles Angels

Whether the Angels resign Lackey or not, they will still be below last year's payroll because of the likely departure of a number of free agents, even after the recent Bobby Abreu  resiging.  Talks between the Angels and Lackey seem to be mild at best, but perhaps the Angels are positioned to make an offer for Halladay.  The Blue Jays are known to be looking for middle infield talent and the Angels have plenty.  Any money not spent on Lackey could be used to sign Halladay to a long-term extension. 

Los Angeles Dodgers

The impending divorce of team owners Frank and Jaime McCourt could change everything, but assuming that the finances of the divorce are not worked out this off-season, the Dodgers could really use another pitcher (as evidenced by how much they struggled in the post-season).  The challenge is, can they acquire someone like Halladay or Vazquez without moving Andre Ethier or Matt Kemp who are untouchable.

Will Javier Vazquez be a Brave in 2010?

Jason Churchill of espn.com compared the 1994 Draft against the 1995 Draft.  While neither draft we deep and the success rate of 1st round picks was below 25% for both years (some of the lowest percentages in the 41-year history of the draft), the 1995 draft gets the nod.  But, what do you think?

1994 Draft

No 1 Pick: Paul Wilson was the #1 pick for the Mets and was supposed to be part of a dynamic trio that included Bill Pulsipher and Jason Isringhausen.  He finished his career 40-58 with a 4.86 ERA that was beseiged by shoulder injuires.

Best Pick, 1st Round: Nomar Garciaparra, #12, Boston Red Sox

Value Pick, Any Round: Javier Vazquez, fifth round, #140 overall, Montreal Expos, Tim Hudson, 35th round, #961 overall, Oakland Athletics

Notable Pick: Jason Varitek, #14, Seattle Mariners, Paul Konerko, #13, Los Angeles Dodgers.

Worst Pick, First Round: Antone Williamson, #4, Milwaukee Brewers "Williamson spent seven seasons in the minors and just 24 games in the big leagues, hitting .204/.254/.259 in 54 at-bats."

Best Teams: Boston Red Sox - Along with Garciaparra, the Sox drafted Carl Pavano (13th round) and traded him with Tony Armas Jr. to the Expos for Pedro Martinez.

1995 Draft

No 1 Pick: Darin Erstad was selected first overall by the then California Angeles (now Los Angeles) and is still active today as a bench player for the Astros.  Erstad won a World Series with the Angels in 2002 and "has played 14 years in the big leagues and entered play this season with a career line of .283/.336/.407"

Best Pick, 1st Round: Roy Halladay, #17, Toronto Blue Jays

Value Pick, Any Round: Carlos Beltran, second round, #49 overall, Kansas City Royals

Notable Pick: Kerry Wood, #4, Chicago Cubs

Worst Pick, First Round: Jaime Jones, #6, Florida Marlins "The left-handed hitting Jones never reached the majors, hitting .265/.341/.404 in 10 season as a minor leaguer. Jones retired after the 2005 season."

Best Team Draft: California Angels - After Erstad the halos grabbed Jarrod Washburn and Rob Quinlan and all three helped the Angels win the 2002 title.

Let's take a look at John Perotto's latest "Any Given Sunday" column from Baseball Prospectus.

• The are rumors that the Angels will consider matching the Yankees $140M offer to CC Sabathia.
• The Angels, will not, however, offer 10 years to Mark Teixeira. Pat Burrell remains an option if the team can't sign Teixeira.
• AJ Burnett has the Blue Jays, Red Sox, Yankees, Braves, Orioles and Phillies on his list as possible destinations.
• In order to make room for Denard Span the Twins are trying to move Delmon Young. They'd hope to get a shortstop or third baseman in return for him.
• Matt Treanor and Jack Wilson remain high on the Tigers off season wish list. Joe Beimel is also a priority.
• The Dodgers are concerned about Rafael Furcal's health issues and will not attempt to bring the shortstop back.
• The Cubs offer of Jason Marquis for David DeJesus is not going to be enough for the Royals. If a trade can not be agreed upon, the Cubs would look to sign Raul Ibanez and Bobby Abreu in that order of preference.
• Javier Vazquez and Jermaine Dye remain players of interest for the Braves.
• The Reds are also interested in Dye, but offering just Homer Bailey is not likely to be enough for the White Sox.
• Jon Garland is on the Mets radar as far as free agent pitchers go and they are also considering acquiring Vazquez from the White Sox or Andy Sonnanstine and/or Edwin Jackson from the Rays. The Rays want more than just Aaron Heilman in return.
• The Mets may toss their hat in the ring for Manny Ramirez and the Brewers may do the same for Francisco Rodriguez.
• The Astros are interested in David Ross, as reported earlier, and Paul Bako.
• Left handed relievers such as Alan Embree, Will Ohman, Brian Shouse and Glendon Rusch remain priorities for the Rockies.

Let's look through Jon Heyman's latest post:

• Heyman quotes a GM as believing that players never leave money on the table to take a smaller offer.  This seems to be in reference to the wildly held belief that CC Sabathia will ultimately accept the highest offer, likely from the Yankees.
• The Orioles are still interested in Manny Ramirez.  Why is anyone's guess, however...
• Trade talks involving Russell Martin do not seem to have much merit.
• White Sox general manager, Kenny Williams, is listening to offers for Bobby Jenks and is also rumored to have suitors for Javier Vazquez and Paul Konerko.

There have been a number of rumors about the Mets interest in Javier Vazquez today.  Let's take a look:

• Dave Van Dyck of the Chicago Tribune contends that the Mets would be interested in trading for Javier Vazquez. 
• A Mets official calls the Vazquez rumor a "pipe dream".
• Omar Minaya is not as interested in Vazquez as he once was reports Joel Sherman.