NEW YORK (AP) – The New York Yankees made their first big move of the offseason, bolstering their rotation by agreeing Thursday to acquire Javier Vazquez from the Montreal Expos.
In exchange for the 27-year-old right-hander, New York sent first baseman Nick Johnson, outfielder Juan Rivera and left-hander Randy Choate to Montreal.
The deal is contingent on all the players passing physicals, the Expos said. New York did not immediately acknowledge the trade.
“It’s tough to trade a pitcher like Javier Vazquez, but I think we have a better opportunity with the situation going forward,” Expos general manager Omar Minaya said at a news conference in Montreal.
Vazquez fills one of the holes in the Yankees’ starting rotation. He went 13-12 with a 3.24 ERA for the Expos last season, ranking third in the NL in strikeouts with 241 in 230 2-3 innings.
He’s three years younger than Bartolo Colon, a free agent that attracted the Yankees’ interest.
New York’s rotation, the backbone of its run to four World Series titles and six AL pennants since 1995, is unsettled. Roger Clemens retired, and Andy Pettitte and David Wells filed for free agency. In addition, Wells had back surgery Tuesday.
The Yankees’ rotation includes Mike Mussina, Jose Contreras, Jeff Weaver and Jon Lieber, who hasn’t pitched in the major leagues since reconstructive elbow surgery in August 2002 but hopes to be ready for the start of the season.
Johnson, 25, played first base for much of last season because of Jason Giambi’s knee injury after starting the season as the regular designated hitter. While he’s regarded as a top hitter – he batted .284 with 14 homers, 47 RBIs and a .422 on-base percentage – he has been injury prone throughout his career.
Rivera, 25, hit .266 with seven homers and 26 RBIs in 173 at-bats and has a strong throwing arm.
Choate, 28, pitched only 3 2-3 innings over five relief appearances for the Yankees last season, compiling a 7.36 ERA. He went 3-5 with one save and a 3.91 ERA in 54 games at Triple-A Columbus.
Montreal, which is owned by the other 29 teams, is faced with payroll limits. Vazquez, eligible for salary arbitration, probably will get a raise from the $6 million he made last season after losing his hearing. He is eligible for free agency after next season.
Johnson is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time this winter; Rivera isn’t yet eligible.
New York will have to find another backup first baseman to spell Giambi, who had knee surgery after the season.
Meanwhile, the Yankees are pushing ahead on several fronts.
Gary Sheffield, who met Monday and Tuesday with Yankees owner George Steinbrenner at the team’s spring training complex in Tampa, Fla., worked out Wednesday at the Yankees’ minor league complex in Florida and took a physical Thursday.
Sheffield, a free agent, is closing in on a three-year deal with the Yankees worth about $39 million. About $15 million of the money will be deferred, and the deal will include an option for 2007.
