Vazquez just completed his tenth consecutive season in which he has made 30 starts, and finished the year 15-10 with a 2.87 ERA in 219 1/3 innings pitched.

…Vazquez had an outstanding season this year, no doubt about it… i have always liked him and when he was with the Expos i remember hoping that the Mets would avoid him when they played them…he is a durable and dependable pitcher which is something the Mets really didn’t have at all this past season…

Vazquez is entering the final year of a three year contract and is due to earn $11.5 million in 2010.

…trading intra-division is always tricky, even though the Mets and Braves made the Ryan Church for Jeff Francoeur swap this past summer…i would think the Braves would want more than the Mets would be willing to give for a high-priced, mid 30s pitcher who has more or less a .500 record for his career…

For more on this and Joe’s analysis of the Braves rotation for next season, check out MetsMerized Online.

According to Rosenthal, “The Mets, Rays and Phillies are among the teams balking at such a price.”

Dye can block trades to six clubs, most of which are in the northeast, says Rosenthal.

…from what i recall, dye was willing to approve a deal to the Red Sox once before, so i would not take this to mean he’s anti-northeast, so much as he wants a say regarding where he ends up playing…

“On Tuesday, Nov. 11, several White Sox officials watched Bobby Parnell and Eddie Kunz pitch in the Arizona Fall League,’ wrote Mark Gonzales in the Chicago Tribune.

According to Gonzales, citing two NL scouts, the Sox were scouting players for deals that include Dye.

Speaking of the White Sox, “The Mets aren’t enamored with Javier Vazquez,” explains Rosenthal.

In a report from early November in the Chicago Tribune, Dave van Dyck wrote, ‘The Mets had interest in Vazquez,’ according to a well-placed source at the GM meetings.

Lastly, “The Braves, Dodgers and Mets are believed to be among teams that have inquired about Rangers starting pitchers Kevin Millwood and Vicente Padilla,” reported Jon Heyman at SI.com over the weekend.

However, according to Rosenthal, “The Mets and Braves are not currently interested in either pitcher.”

Rosenthal also reports on whether the Rockies will trade Huston Street; Atlanta’s quest for a starting pitcher, like A.J. Burnett; whether the Dodgers should sign Trevor Hoffman; and the logjam of corner-infielders in Boston.

According to Gonzales, citing two NL scouts, the Sox are scouting players for deals that include OF Jermaine Dye.

Earlier this week, in a post to his blog for Newsday, Ken Davidoff wrote that the Sox are looking to trade Dye.

…as i wrote earlier in the week, the Sox will likely want a pitcher back in a deal for dye, who they are eager to move, in an effort to get younger and free up some cash…

Dye hit .292 with 34 HR, 96 RBI and a .344 OBP in 154 games for the White Sox this season.

He has hit at least 20 home runs during each of the last four seasons, while playing mostly right field.

Dye will earn $11.5 million in 2009, after which he has a mutual option in 2010 for $12 million, or a $1 million buyout that could make him a free agent.

In a report on Tuesday for SI.com, Jon Heyman wrote, “The Mets are trying to swing a deal for White Sox RHP Bobby Jenks before doling out free-agent riches to Brian Fuentes or Francisco Rodriguez.”

Jenks, 27, completed 30 of 34 saves in 2008, with a 2.63 ERA in 61 innings pitched, during which opponents hit .230 against him while striking out 38 times.

Gonzales quotes an NL scout as saying, ‘Jenks remains a bargain despite his expected salary hike to at least $5 million because of his consistency and the dearth of dependable closers.’

Meanwhile, in a report from early November in the Chicago Tribune, Dave van Dyck wrote, ‘The Mets had interest in White Sox RHP Javier Vazquez,’ according to a well-placed source at the GM meetings.

…in other words, something must be brewing with the Sox…

…i think it’s pretty clear, based on buzz and reports, etc., that Derek Lowe is the mark…after that, names like Javier Vazquez and Edwin Jackson have been floated around as possible trade acquisitions…just for fun, Johan Santana, John Maine, Mike Pelfrey, Derek Lowe and either vazquez or niese would work for me, though it’s far from ideal…

“In an ideal world, you want to bring Niese into camp as a fifth starter,” Minaya explained to reporters, according to the Post, “and if he takes off he’s got the job.”

“If he doesn’t, he goes to Triple-A, and at some point he’s ready to go.  That fifth guy, you’re not going to get that guy in December, you’re going to get that guy in January.”

…i guess the idea would be, if niese takes the spot, then the acquired pitcher, i.e., vazquez or jackson, or some one else, will shift to the bullpen to be a long man…