People familiar with trade tell AP: Braves’ Vazquez sent to Yankees for Cabrera and prospect

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AP source: Vazquez sent to Yankees for Cabrera

NEW YORK — Pitcher Javy Vazquez has been traded back to the New York Yankees by Atlanta in a swap that sent Melky Cabrera to the Braves, people familiar with the trade told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not yet been announced.

New York also gets left-hander Boone Logan as part of the deal, and the Braves obtain lefty pitching prospect Mike Dunn and about $500,000.

The trade leaves New York with an opening in left field, allowing the Yankees to perhaps pursue Mark DeRosa. New York does not appear interested in re-signing Johnny Damon or going after free agents Matt Holliday and Jason Bay.

Vazquez spent 2004 with the Yankees, going 14-10 and making his only All-Star team. His first stint in New York ended miserably, when he relieved Kevin Brown trailing 2-0 in Game 7 of the AL championship series against Boston and allowed a first-pitch grand slam to Damon.

Vazquez was dealt to the Arizona Diamondbacks after the season in the trade that brought Randy Johnson to New York. He spent one year with Arizona, then went to the Chicago White Sox for three seasons. Now 33, the right-hander was 15-10 with a 2.87 ERA and 238 strikeouts this year for the Braves, leaving his career record at 142-139 in 12 seasons. He will make $11.5 million next year and can become a free agent after the season.

He joins a pitching rotation that includes CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte.

Cabrera had been the Yankees’ starting center fielder for most of the last three seasons. After losing the job to Brett Gardner during spring training this year, he quickly regained it and hit .274 with 13 homers and 68 RBIs, helping the Yankees win the World Series for the first time since 2000. He is eligible for free agency after the 2012 season.

Logan, acquired by the Braves from the White Sox in the Vazquez trade last December, was 1-1 with a 5.19 ERA in 20 relief appearances. He held left-handers to a .231 average and figures to fill the hole created by the departure of Phil Coke, who was sent to Detroit in a deal that brought New York center fielder Curtis Granderson.

The 24-year-old Dunn had a combined 99 strikeouts in 73 1-3 innings at Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre and Double-A Trenton, going 4-3 with a 3.31 ERA in 38 relief appearances. He made his major league debut on Sept. 4 and had a 6.75 ERA in four appearances.