More photos » by Gregory Smith - AP

Atlanta Braves newly acquired Yankees starter Javier Vazquez delivers to a Philadelphia Phillies batter during the third inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009, at Turner Field in Atlanta.

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After the Winter Meetings, somebody put it best when they said "with Twitter, now more people have the opportunity to be wrong, sooner" about rumored baseball trades and signings.  That person was right. 

I went to bed last night without the slightest clue who the newest Yankee might be, and Javier Vazquez was the last person I expected.  And while it seems that some minor details are left to be worked out (conflicting reports have Arodys Vizcaino included or not included in the deal), I want to take a look at what we might be able to expect from Vazquez in 2010 and where he fits in the starting rotation.

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Happy Monday to all on what's shaping up to be a slow news day for baseball.

-The New York Daily News suggests that Brett Gardner or Melky Cabrera might be a fit for the Cubs.  The Cubs do need an outfielder, preferably one who is cost-controlled, and they do have a surplus of starting pitching…sort of.  Ted Lilly, Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster, and Carlos Silva are all signed to big money deals, so the only pitchers the Yankees would probably even consider are Tom Gorzelanny, Jeff Smardzija, and Randy Wells, and they all have issues – lack of control, lack of an out pitch – that would probably get them eaten alive in the AL East.  So, chalk this one up to pure speculation, although I suspect one of them winds up being dealt before next season opens to a team that's in a similar situation.

- Chad Jennings reports that the Yankees may not have given up on Wang.  I wonder if their original offer of just a non-guaranteed minor league contract burned whatever bridges may have been left.  Hopefully not. There's been speculation that the Yankees may chase Erik Bedard, and there seems to be confirmed interest in Ben Sheets and Justin Duchscherer, but they know Wang better than any other team does, and better than they know any of those other injured pitchers.  Consider that reason #1,245 that Wang should be in Pinstripes again in 2010.

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More photos » by Ben Margot - AP

Sorry Melky, this hurts me more than that pitch you just got hit by.

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I suspect that both Johnny Damon and the Yankees will be moving on shortly, leaving Scott Boras to work his magic elsewhere and Brian Cashman to find another left fielder.  Melky Cabrera seems to be the most logical in-house replacement, because he’s young, athletic, and inexpensive.  I want to take a closer look, though; just because he can play there doesn’t automatically mean he should. 

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More photos » by Alex Brandon - AP

12 days ago: FILE - In this April 8, 2009, file photo, New York Yankees pitcher Chien-Ming Wang works in the first inning of a baseball game with the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards in Baltimore. Wang Chien-ming became a free agent when the New York Yankees failed to offer a contract for next season by Saturday night's deadline. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

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I think "galaxy" works, so we don't have to worry about getting sued.

-It seems like Brian Cashman has gone all Bernie Williams on Chien-Ming Wang, ending his Yankees career for all intents and purposes.  I’m beating a dead horse here, but I don’t get it.  Nobody, not even Wang’s agent it seems, was expecting anything unrealistic.  But a non-guaranteed, minor-league deal?  Rich Harden just got $6.5 million guaranteed for crying out loud, and while he’s is more talented, I’d bet on anybody (Wang included) to pitch more innings than Harden next season.  We’re going to have to trust that Cashman knows something we don't, but I’m worried this move will could back to bite the Yankees.

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More photos » by Charles Rex Arbogast - AP

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Update by jscape:  Looks like it's happening.  I don't like it from the look of things, but I'm reserving judgment until I see all the names and dollars involved.

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Ken Davidoff is reporting what we all figured - the Yankees are likely to decline arbitration with Chien-Ming Wang, making him a free agent once the Dec 12th deadline passes.  Peter Gammons points out that if Wang doesn't sign with another team, the Yankees would still be able to re-sign him after May 1st. 

This makes no sense to me.  Wang made $5 million last year, and it seems certain that he'd "earn" the maximum 20% pay decrease in arbitration based on his awful 2009.

I know that shoulder surgery is far more complicated, and often far less successful, than Tommy John surgery.  And it doesn't seem like anybody knows for certain how far along he is (or isn't) in the rehabilitation process. But we do know that some GM is going to cross his fingers and sign Ben Sheets, Erik Bedard, or Rich Harden this offseason, probably for at least $4 million guaranteed, and the only way that Wang differs from any of them is that he's actually pitched more than 200 innings in a season in the last half-decade.

Wang is far from a sure thing at this point, but somebody will take the gamble on his comeback.  I just hope it's the Yankees.