Atlanta, GA (My Sportsbook) - The
Atlanta Braves have acquired right-handed starter Javier Vazquez and left-handed reliever Boone Logan from the
Chicago White Sox in exchange for four prospects.
Chicago will receive catcher Tyler Flowers, left-handed pitcher Santos Rodriguez and infielders Jonathan Gilmore and Brent Lillibridge.
Vazquez, 32, posted a 12-16 record last season for Chicago with a 4.67 earned run average and 200 strikeouts in 208 1/3 innings. The Braves will become his fifth team, as Vazquez has pitched for the Expos, Yankees, Diamondbacks and White Sox over his 11 seasons in the major leagues.
"We went into this offseason knowing we had to get some key guys to fill out our rotation," said Braves general manager Frank Wren on Thursday. "This is the first big step, getting a guy that is so well-respected and has the ability to lead our young guys.
"That was really crucial for us, because this isn't just about this year or next year. This is about the next four or five years, with our young players that are developing. We only have Javy for two years at this moment, but I think his impact will be felt a long time."
A Puerto Rico native, Vazquez is under contract until 2010 and will make $11.5 million in each season. He owns a career mark of 127-129 with a 4.32 ERA in 355 games, all but two of which have been starts.
Logan, meanwhile, went 2-3 with a 5.95 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 55 relief appearances with Chicago last season and is 4-4 with a 5.87 ERA in 144 games over three seasons in the major leagues, all with the White Sox.
The 22-year-old Flowers was named to the Carolina League All-Star team a year ago after hitting .288 with 32 doubles, 17 home runs, 88 RBI, 98 walks and 72 runs scored in 122 games at Class-A Myrtle Beach.
Rodriguez, just 20 years old, was 1-2 with a 2.79 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 29 innings pitched with the Gulf Coast League Braves in 2008.
Gilmore, 20, combined to hit .294 with 24 doubles, four home runs and 35 RBI in 94 games with Advanced Rookie Danville and Class-A Rome in 2008. He was also named to the Appalachian League postseason All-Star Team after hitting .337 with four homers and 31 RBI at Danville.
Lillibridge spent most of last season with Triple-A Richmond, bating .220 with seven triples, four home runs, 39 RBI and 23 stolen bases in 90 games, all at shortstop. He also appeared in 29 games with Atlanta, batting .200 with one homer and eight RBI.
