D-Backs' Vazquez requests trade
11/11/2005
PHOENIX -- Javier Vazquez may have thrown his final pitch in a Diamondbacks uniform.
The right-hander confirmed Friday that he has decided to exercise his right to request a trade, though a Diamondbacks official said a formal request had not been received by the club.
"I have decided for family and personal reasons to request a trade," Vazquez said in an email. "I thought about it carefully and at the end of the day it was too tough on my family to be out west."
As a player traded in the middle of a long-term contract, Vazquez had the right to request a trade. The Diamondbacks, who acquired Vazquez last January in a trade that sent Randy Johnson to the Yankees, have until March 15 to deal the right-hander. If they do not trade him by then, he can elect to become a free agent or he can rescind his trade request.
If he elects free agency, he would void the final two years remaining on his contract at a total of $24 million.
"I'm shocked," manager Bob Melvin said. "I didn't see this coming. I thought he was going to stay. I didn't really discuss it with him during the season; we talked about the present rather than the future."
Vazquez, who makes his offseason home in Puerto Rico, also has family there, as does his wife, Kamille. He had said throughout the season that if he decided to request a trade it would be because the travel from Arizona to Puerto Rico was too arduous for his wife and children.
That appears to be what happened, as he told ESPN.com: "The toughest thing was that flight [from Arizona to Puerto Rico], especially with two young kids [ages 1 and 2] who have to move around and can't be still for two seconds. It was a whole-day trip. You leave at 9 [a.m.] and get in at 9-10 o'clock at night, and then have another hour and 20-minute ride to our house. It was just very hard. ... So for me and my family, it would just be easier to be closer to the East Coast."
With that in mind, the report said he wants to go to a team east of the Mountain Time Zone.
Vazquez was the Diamondbacks' Opening Day starter in 2005 and compiled an 11-15 record and a 4.42 ERA in 33 starts.
"I had a lot of thinking to do because I had a lot of fun with my teammates," Vazquez said. "Hopefully it'll all work out for both parties."
While trading Vazquez would open up a hole in the starting rotation, depending on who they receive back in a trade it could give the Diamondbacks some money to spend. The right-hander is set to make $11.5 million next year and $12.5 million in 2007.
"We've been given the indication and are aware of the probability but have not received an official request at this time," Diamondbacks spokesperson Derrick Hall said. "If we do receive that request we will investigate all of our options and [GM Josh Byrnes] and his staff will do what's in the best interests of the Arizona Diamondbacks."
Source: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/
PHOENIX -- Javier Vazquez may have thrown his final pitch in a Diamondbacks uniform.
The right-hander confirmed Friday that he has decided to exercise his right to request a trade, though a Diamondbacks official said a formal request had not been received by the club.
"I have decided for family and personal reasons to request a trade," Vazquez said in an email. "I thought about it carefully and at the end of the day it was too tough on my family to be out west."
As a player traded in the middle of a long-term contract, Vazquez had the right to request a trade. The Diamondbacks, who acquired Vazquez last January in a trade that sent Randy Johnson to the Yankees, have until March 15 to deal the right-hander. If they do not trade him by then, he can elect to become a free agent or he can rescind his trade request.
If he elects free agency, he would void the final two years remaining on his contract at a total of $24 million.
"I'm shocked," manager Bob Melvin said. "I didn't see this coming. I thought he was going to stay. I didn't really discuss it with him during the season; we talked about the present rather than the future."
Vazquez, who makes his offseason home in Puerto Rico, also has family there, as does his wife, Kamille. He had said throughout the season that if he decided to request a trade it would be because the travel from Arizona to Puerto Rico was too arduous for his wife and children.
That appears to be what happened, as he told ESPN.com: "The toughest thing was that flight [from Arizona to Puerto Rico], especially with two young kids [ages 1 and 2] who have to move around and can't be still for two seconds. It was a whole-day trip. You leave at 9 [a.m.] and get in at 9-10 o'clock at night, and then have another hour and 20-minute ride to our house. It was just very hard. ... So for me and my family, it would just be easier to be closer to the East Coast."
With that in mind, the report said he wants to go to a team east of the Mountain Time Zone.
Vazquez was the Diamondbacks' Opening Day starter in 2005 and compiled an 11-15 record and a 4.42 ERA in 33 starts.
"I had a lot of thinking to do because I had a lot of fun with my teammates," Vazquez said. "Hopefully it'll all work out for both parties."
While trading Vazquez would open up a hole in the starting rotation, depending on who they receive back in a trade it could give the Diamondbacks some money to spend. The right-hander is set to make $11.5 million next year and $12.5 million in 2007.
"We've been given the indication and are aware of the probability but have not received an official request at this time," Diamondbacks spokesperson Derrick Hall said. "If we do receive that request we will investigate all of our options and [GM Josh Byrnes] and his staff will do what's in the best interests of the Arizona Diamondbacks."
Source: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/
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