It's the Day Before TGIF Hot Stove

As we move closer to next week's winter meetings, things are starting to move a little bit. Here's a quick run down.

The Braves and White Sox have officially announced the Javier Vazquez deal. As expected, the White Sox will receiving shortstop Brent Lillibridge, but Jo-Jo Reyes is not included as was originally speculated. Chicago instead will get prospects- third baseman Jon Gilmore, catcher Tyler Flowers, and left-handed pitcher Santos Rodriguez. In addition to Vazquez, Atlanta picks up reliever Boone Logan.


The Shortstops are on the Move

The Padres sent Khalil Greene to the Cardinals yesterday in exchange for two minor league pitchers who have yet to be named.

Dan Graziano reports that the Tigers have acquired shortstop Jack Wilson from the Pirates. No word yet on who is going to Pittbsurgh. Both the Tigers and Wilson's agent have denied there's a deal in place.

The Giants have NOW agreed to a 2-year deal with Edgar Renteria. It comes about a month after it was originally reported and then denied.


Screw Tradition

The Red Sox are expected to hold a news conference today to announce the signing of Japanese amateur pitcher Junichi Tazawa to a 3-year, $4 million deal. That according to the Boston Herald.


Burnett the Candle at Both Ends

Braves GM Frank Wren has confirmed that Atlanta has made a contract offer to free agent pitcher A.J. Burnett. Rumors have it that it's a 5-year deal, but the Atlanta Constitution speculates it's a 4-year, $60 million offer.


Rumors

The Associated Press reported that the Giants and Marlins are talking a Jonathan Sanchez for Jorge Cantu swap. Cantu's value is high again after having a bounce back 2008 season.

Casey Blake says the Twins or Dodgers can have him if they add a guaranteed third year to any new deal.


Other Signings

The Red Sox have given newly minted AL MVP Dustin Pedroia a brand spanking new 6-year, $40.5 million contract.

The Giants have finalized a deal with reliever Bob Howry, who was most recently with the Cubs. The Giants are also said to be preparing a $100 million plus offer for CC Sabathia.

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Braves-White Sox Swing 5 Player Deal

A deal rumored throughout the day has apparently come to fruition. The Chicago White Sox are sending veteran right-hander Javier Vazquez and reliever Boone Logan to the Atlanta Braves righty Jo-Jo Reyes, shortstop Brett Lillibridge, and a top prospect. The deal isn't expected to be finalized until tomorrow.

Source: ESPN

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Moose Grabs 18th With Two to Go

Mike Mussina still has a shot at his first 20 win season after defeating the Chicago White Sox last night, 9-2, at Yankee Stadium. Mussina must win each of his final two starts, but either way, he made his final Stadium start a memorable one. He got a big hand from Bobby Abreu, who hit a pair of home runs and drove in a season high 6 runs.

All eyes were on Mussina though, who is in his eighth, and possibly last, season in the Bronx. He started out shaky, loading the bases with just one out in the first, but escaped with just one run allowed. Abreu picked him right up though with a 2-run, upper deck blast off of ex-Yankee Javier Vazquez in the home half of the inning.

Two innings later Abreu struck again, this time with no one aboard, hitting a Vazquez delivery into the bleachers in right-center field (as far as we know that fan didn't make it three nights in a row). It was Abreu's 19th home run of the season, and he leaves one home run shy of becoming only the third player in MLB history with eight 20 home run, 20 steal seasons (The Bonds', Barry and Bobby, have 10 seasons.).

Mussina allowed just two more base runners until the seventh inning when, at Dave Eiland's suggestion, Joe Girardi sent him out to face one hitter. Mussina allowed a lead off double to Brian Anderson, but exited to the standing ovation Eiland had counted on.

The Yankees broke the game open in the fourth after Robinson Cano drew a one out walk, his first free pass since August 20. Vazquez struck out Juan Miranda, but then issued back to back walks to Jose Molina and Brett Gardner. Derek Jeter's infield single extended the score to 4-1 and knocked Vazquez from the game. Ozzie Guillen brought in left-hander Horacio Ramirez to face Abreu, but the Yankees right fielder delivered again, this time with a single to right field that plated two more runs. An Alexei Ramirez error on Alex Rodriguez's grounder allowed the final run of the inning to score and built the Yankees lead to 7-1.

Guillen then made a curious decision, ostensibly out of frustration, by pulling starters Orlando Cabrera, Jermaine Dye, A.J. Pierzynski, Ken Griffey Jr., and Ramirez from the ball game, despite it being only the fifth inning. The move had no effect. Jose Veras finished up the seventh for Mussina and then the much anticipated debut of Humberto Sanchez took place in the eighth inning. Francisco Cervelli also made his debut behind home plate.


News and Notes

Chris Britton allowed a solo home run to Paul Konerko in the ninth.

Johnny Damon missed the game due to the birth of his daughter Danica.

Mike Mussina won his 268th game, tying him for 33rd place on the all-time wins list with Jim Palmer. Winning the final two won't be easy, he has to face Toronto and Boston.

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Around the Horn - 4/29

Not too much action in the major leagues last night. The Orioles and White Sox had rain interrupt play at the start and the end of their game. It ended up a 3-3 tie with the game suspended after 12 innings. Since it was the end of 4-game series, there's no word on when it would be continued. Daniel Cabera (2 ER 6.1 IP) and Javier Vazquez (1 ER 8 IP) both turned in good starts.

The A's scored 8 runs in the 7th inning to blow away the Angels, 14-2. Frank Thomas was a HR short of the cycle when he left the game, and Daric Barton, Emil Brown, and Jack Hannahan each homered. Chad Gaudin has come back from injuries well to post a 3-1, 3.00 record. John Garland gave up 7 runs in 6 innings for the Angels.

The Mets and Pirates were rained out in Flushing. The Reds held off the Cardinals 4-3 as Bronson Arroyo finally picked up his first win. Rick Ankiel hit his 5th HR for the Cards.

Dan Haren improved to 4-1 in the Diamondbacks 5-3 triumph over the Astros. Mark Reynold's 2-run double gave him 24 RBI for the month.

The Giants moved Barry Zito to the bullpen, but Matt Cain and the pen gave them some relief last night. Cain was the victor in the Giants 4-0 win against the Rockies. Aaron Rowand knocked in a pair of run and is hitting .308.

News and Notes

After passing through waivers, Hideo Nomo was officially released by the Royals.

Mike Lieberthal will be signing a 1-day contract shortly with the Phillies, so that he can officially retire as a Phillie.

Rich Harden is scheduled for rehab start on Thursday as he tries to come back from yet another injury for the A's.

Scott Kazmir threw an 81-pitch rehab start on Monday and could be activated by the Rays this weekend.

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Netflix Mike Mussina Night

Any time Mike Mussina takes the hill it's a good night to watch those Netflix rentals. We've got "Michael Clayton" in the hopper ready to go. Moose (1-3, 5.75) hasn't had great success with the White Sox (16-16, 4.63) in the past and that's when his stuff was still working well.

White Sox vs. Moose

Jermaine Dye .377 (20-53) 2 HR 8 RBI
A.J. Pierzynski .371 (13-35) 1 HR 6 RBI
Toby Hall .290 (9-31) 3 RBI
Paul Konerko .286 (10-35) 1 HR 2 RBI
Jim Thome .271 (13-48) 6 HR 15 RBI
Nick Swisher .222 (2-9) 1 HR 1 RBI
Juan Uribe .211 (4-19) 1 HR 4 RBI
Joe Crede .185 (5-27) 1 HR 2 RBI
Orlando Cabrera .158 (3-19)
Carlos Quentin .000 (0-3)

Former Yankee Javier Vazquez (3-1, 3.20) gets the call for the Chisox tonight. He's 1-3, 5.25 against the Yankees in 4 career starts. One of those was on the losing end of David Cone's perfect game when he was a member of the Montreal Expos.

Yankees vs Vazquez

Jason Giambi .500 (1-2) 1 HR 2 RBI
Morgan Ensberg .385 (5-13) 1 HR 2 RBI
Robinson Cano .333 (2-6)
Chad Moeller .333 (1-3)
Bobby Abreu .273 (18-66) 7 HR 12 RBI 9 BB
Johnny Damon .294 (5-17) 2 HR 3 RBI
Melky Cabrera .250 (1-4)
Derek Jeter .231 (3-13) 1 HR 2 RBI
Jose Molina .167 (1-6)
Jorge Posada .125 (1-8)
Hideki Matsui .000 (0-1)

News and Notes

Bobby Abreu's grand slam yesterday was his first since 8/20/05 for the Phillies against the Diamondbacks. As a team the Yankees have hit 54 grand slams since 2000, the most in the majors. Abreu needs just 2 more RBI for 1,000.

Chien-Ming Wang has allowed only 1 home run (Seattle's Adrian Beltre) to a right-handed hitter in his last 23 starts.

Hideki Matsui batted clean up last night for the first time since July 5 of last season.

The Yankees lineup from Peter Abraham:

YANKEES
Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Giambi 1B
Ensberg 3B
Cabrera CF
Mussina RHP

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