Late Innings

Update: The third player might be catching prospect Tyler Flowers, according to Rosenthal. And he mentions that Reyes is not in the trade. We’ll see how this breaks out, but this all but certain ends the Braves’ interest in Jake Peavy.

Here’s the story on ESPN, which just broke minutes ago. It’s a five-player trade:

• White Sox get: Jo-Jo Reyes, Brett Lillibridge, “another top prospect”
• Braves get: Vazquez, Boone Logan

I’m not sure what ESPN means by “another top prospect", but I’m all but certain that it’s not Tommy Hanson, who will most likely be in the Braves’ rotation in 2009. You could possibly throw out Jason Heyward as well. Granted assuming the White Sox don’t receive one of those two players, I give the edge to the Braves here. Vazquez doesn’t let hitters make contact with him (about 9 K/9), and I wouldn’t be surprised if his ERA goes down by a run in the National League. Logan will go right into Bobby Cox’s bullpen.

White Sox GM Ken Williams does have a knack for observing talent, and Reyes and Lillibridge had to have caught his eye. Lillibridge will add more depth to the middle infield, and should mitigate the blow of Orlando Cabrera leaving. And I personally think that Reyes can be a strong starter, especially with the White Sox now having him under team control until 2013.