Baseball: Yanks in pitcher trade

Pitcher Javy Vazquez was traded back to the New York Yankees by the Atlanta Braves yesterday for outfielder Melky Cabrera, a move that pushed New York's payroll for next season over US$200 million ($286 million).

He joins a pitching rotation that includes CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett and Andy Pettitte and the top four starters will combine for US$64 million in payroll - more than four teams paid their entire rosters last season.