Yankees, Chisox shake up rotations

By John Manuel
July 31, 2004

Bill James popularized the term "challenge trade" to describe the kinds of deals like the one Saturday between the Yankees and White Sox. The teams traded starting righthanders of nearly the same age, straight up for each other, hoping a change of scenery brings the pitchers better fortune. New York divested itself of its $32 million Cuban enigma, Jose Contreras, by sending him to the Chicago for the more proven but equally unpredictable Esteban Loaiza. The Yankees also parted with a significant amount of cash (reportedly $3 million) toward the last two years of Contreras' contract.

Loaiza, 32, had a journeyman career with the Pirates, Rangers and Blue Jays before joining the White Sox last season. The move and the addition of a cut fastball made him a new pitcher. He went 21-9, 2.90, led the American League with 207 strikeouts in a career-high 226 innings and finished second in the AL Cy Young Award voting. But though he made his second straight All-Star Game appearance in 2004, he hasn't been nearly as effective. Loaiza's 9-5 record belies his 4.86 ERA in 21 starts, as well as his 83-45 strikeout-walk ratio in 141 innings. Opponents have hit .283 with 23 homers as his cutter hasn't been nearly as sharp. He also throws a low-90s fastball, a slider and a changeup. Loaiza is making $4 million and becomes a free agent after the season. He has a career 99-87, 4.60 record in 290 games.

Contreras, 32, was starting to earn comparisons to Hideki Irabu, another foreign pitcher with big stuff who couldn't translate his success to the majors. Contreras had endured a tumultuous season-and-a-half since signing with the Yankees after defecting from Cuba. He chose New York over the Red Sox after a highly publicized negotiating process that led Boston CEO Larry Lucchino to brand the Yankees "The Evil Empire." Contreras needed time in the minors last season as he got acclimated to American culture and its style of baseball. He also endured a difficult separation from his family that ended this year, when his wife and children were allowed to come to the United States.

The ace of Cuba's national teams from 1999-2002, Contreras never trusted his mid-90s fastball enough with the Yankees, relying more on his slider, curveball and plus-plus splitter, his best pitch. He rarely has pitched well in big games, especially against Boston, and was relegated to middle relief in last year's playoffs. The Yankees counted on Contreras to pick up some of the slack left by the departures of Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and David Wells, but he posted a 5.64 ERA in 18 starts this season. He went 8-5 with an 82-42 K-BB ratio, .250 opponent average and 22 homers in 96 innings. Contreras earns $9 million in salary and bonuses this year, followed by $8 million in 2005 and $9 million in 2006. His career record stands at 15-7, 4.64 in 36 games.