Braves Trade for Vazquez, Others

The main goal for the Atlanta Braves this offseason? Fill their pitching flaws. Atlanta has been rocked by injuries this past season, which is forcing them to revamp their bullpen. Tim Hudson had elbow surgery in August, John Smoltz and Tom Glavine both had arm surgeries which ended their season (they are now free agents), and Mike Hampton signed with the Houston Astros.

Braves GM Frank Wren said that he wants to add two starting pitchers before the ’09 season. After offering the San Diego Padres a trade for Jake Peavy, the deal fell through and ATL is moving on.

So this brings us to the meat of the story. The Braves will be getting starting pitcher Javier Vazquez and reliever Boone Logan from the Chicago White Sox. ESPN’s Peter Gammons was told by a baseball source that the deal reportedly includes four other players. Among the Braves players going to the White Sox are JoJo Reyes, Brett Lillibridge and another prospect.

Javier Vazquez, 32, had a 12-16 record with the White Sox last season and a 4.67 ERA in 33 starts. He struck out 200 in 208.5 innings.

Logan was 4-4 with a 5.70 ERA last season for the White Sox.

Reyes went 3-11 with a 5.81 ERA last season in 22 games for Atlanta.

Brett Lillibridge, a minor league player for AAA Richmond in the Braves organization, hit .220 with four home runs and 39 RBIs.

Source: ESPN.com (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3740201)