Yankees Get Ace, Still Seek Brown

The New York Yankees retooled their rotation and escalated the arms race with the rival Boston Red Sox on Thursday, acquiring right-hander Javier Vazquez from the Montreal Expos for first baseman Nick Johnson, outfielder Juan Rivera and left-hander Randy Choate.

The trade, a pointed response to the Red Sox’s acquisition of Curt Schilling last week, also is a blow to Dodger pitcher Kevin Brown’s desire to be traded to the Yankees. The Dodgers had wanted Johnson included in the Yankees’ proposal for Brown, who Dodger sources said recently informed the club he would waive his no-trade clause to become a Yankee.

But now, pending the completion of physicals, Johnson is bound for Canada, Brown is still with the Dodgers and the Yankees have raised the stakes against the Red Sox by getting Vazquez, a 27-year-old considered among the top right-handed starters in the major leagues.

“It’s tough to trade a pitcher like Javier Vazquez, but I think we have a better opportunity with the situation going forward,” Expo General Manager Omar Minaya said at a news conference in Montreal.

“Vazquez is one of the better young pitchers in the game. When he goes out there, he gives you everything.”

The Yankees confirmed the trade in a statement but don’t plan to comment until they receive results of the physicals.

The Yankees soon will announce that they have signed former Dodger outfielder Gary Sheffield to a three-year deal worth $39 million, baseball officials said, and the club is believed to be among four teams, including the Dodgers and Angels, in the hunt for Japanese shortstop Kazuo Matsui.

The Yankees also have bolstered the bullpen, retaining left-hander Felix Heredia with a two-year, $3.8-million contract and signing Tom Gordon ($7.25 million) and former Dodger setup man Paul Quantrill ($6.8 million) to two-year deals. And there’s no end in sight to their latest shopping spree.

The team’s rotation has been the foundation of its run of four World Series titles and six American League pennants since 1996, and the addition of Vazquez fills one of several holes opened by the retirement of future Hall of Famer Roger Clemens and left-handers Andy Pettitte and David Wells becoming free agents.

And Yankee General Manager Brian Cashman has Brown among his next targets.

Evans rejected Cashman’s initial proposal of right-hander Jeff Weaver for Brown, remaining steadfast in his stance of not trading a starting pitcher “unless we can fill a need” for a middle-of-the-order, right-handed batter.

But despite getting Vazquez and pursuing Pettitte, the Yankees are determined to bring Brown to the Bronx because of their payroll battle with the Red Sox.

Steinbrenner, sources said, views Brown as the perfect replacement for Clemens -- an intimidating veteran who works at the front end of a rotation. The Yankees, however, aren’t willing to part with All-Star second baseman Alfonso Soriano, believing that Weaver, 27, is a fair swap for Brown, who turns 39 in March, has had a recent history of major injuries and is owed $30 million over the next two years.

The Yankees apparently are willing to include cash in the deal to help pay some of the remaining $15.5 million Weaver is guaranteed under the final two seasons of his contract. But at this point, the Dodgers aren’t interested.

How would Brown feel about returning to the Dodgers?

“I want to make it clear that Kevin Brown has not asked to be traded. He’s a professional and he has a contract he has to fulfill, so he’ll perform his duties and go on,” said agent Scott Boras, who has declined to comment on his talks with the Dodgers. “These issues came up because of the Yankees’ interest in him, and Kevin obviously has some personal concerns.

“I’m not going to comment on any conversations, but I will say that a question was posed and Kevin gave his response.

“He was flexible with that response and we thought that would help the Dodgers, but we’re just going to have to wait and see what happens.”

Vazquez, who has pitched at least 217 innings the last four seasons, went 13-12 with a 3.24 earned-run average in 2003. He was second in the National League with 230 2/3 innings and third with 241 strikeouts.

The Expos are owned by the other 29 clubs and operate under strict payroll limitations, prompting Minaya to consider trading Vazquez, who had a salary of $6 million last season, can go to arbitration this off-season and can become a free agent after next season.

Minaya, though, said he did not have to move the best pitcher on the Montreal staff, but Cashman was persistent.

“Brian called me right after the season,” Minaya said. “I told him, ‘I don’t have to trade Javier Vazquez. If you are interested, be aggressive.’ And to his credit, he was aggressive.”

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The Dodgers are attempting to find a match with the Red Sox in a potential major deal for All-Star shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, a baseball source said. Garciaparra would represent a major offensive upgrade at shortstop for a team that was last in the majors in runs last season. He would also fill the need for a right-handed batter behind Shawn Green. Garciaparra, who is from the Southland and played at Bellflower St. John Bosco, is eligible for free agency after the 2004 season.

Evans also is trying to fill a hole at first base after he came up short in attempts to acquire first basemen Derrek Lee or Richie Sexson. A deal for Chicago White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko, a two-time Dodger minor league player of the year, has been on the table for weeks, sources said, but Evans apparently isn’t interested.

Meanwhile, the Oakland Athletics are interested in Dodger catcher Paul Lo Duca, who was offered to Milwaukee in the Sexson proposal. The A’s, sources said, want to send outfielder Jermaine Dye to the Dodgers, who also have a hole in left field. The Athletics would be willing to include cash in the deal because Dye is owed $11 million under the final guaranteed year of his deal.

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Prospective Dodger owners Frank and Jamie McCourt visited Dodger Stadium for the first time Thursday and met briefly with team officials, sources said. The McCourts are working on a $430-million deal to purchase the club from News Corp. Despite questions about Frank McCourt’s ability to finance the transaction, sources familiar with McCourt’s bid said he is moving toward completing the deal. McCourt faces a Dec. 31 deadline to forward all sale documents to the commissioner’s office.

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Times staff writer Ross Newhan and Associated Press contributed to this report.