The New York Yankees see old friend and former Yankee outfielder Melky Cabrera Tuesday night when the Kansas city Royals come to Yankee Stadium to begin a three-game series. This will mark the first time the popular ex-Yankee has faced his old team since being traded to Atlanta for Javier Vazquez following the 2009 season.
You can certainly argue that neither the Yankees nor the Braves were thrilled with what they got in the deal. Cabrera hit just .255 for Atlanta with four home runs and 42 RBI in 2010, then was let go and signed as a free agent with Kansas City. Cabrera spent the first five years of his career with the Yankees.
The Yankees did not get anything from Vazquez, either, as he went 10-10 with a 5.32 ERA and signed with the Florida Marlins as a free agent in the off-season. The Yankees made no effort to keep him.
The Yankees enter tonight just percentage points ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays for the top spot in the American League. Freddy Garcia pitches for the Yankees and Kyle Davies for Kansas City.