What is Javier Vázquez's net worth?
Javier Vázquez is a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher who has a net worth of $40 million. During his career he pitched for the Florida Marlins, Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox, Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Yankees and Montreal Expos.
Early Life
Javier Vázquez was born on July 25, 1976 in Ponce, Puerto Rico. He grew up in a baseball family, as his father was a coach and his brother was also a professional baseball player. Vázquez attended high school in Puerto Rico, where he played baseball and was scouted by several Major League teams.
Baseball Career
Vázquez was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the fifth round of the 1994 MLB Draft, and he made his Major League debut with the team in 1998. He spent six seasons with the Expos, establishing himself as one of the team's top pitchers. In 2003, he was traded to the New York Yankees, where he had one of the best seasons of his career, winning 15 games and earning his first All-Star selection.
Following a four walk, two strikeout performance and game seven loss to the Boston Red Sox in the 2004 American League Championship Series, the Yankees sent Vázquez, Brad Halsey, and Dioner Navarro, to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for Randy Johnson in 2005.
After pitching the 2005 season with Arizona, Vázquez formally requested a trade from the team, asking for a location that was "easier for his family in Puerto Rico to visit. On December 20, 2005, Vázquez was traded to the Chicago White Sox for Orlando Hernández, Luis Vizcaíno, and Chris Young. He would go on to win a World Series with the White Sox.
During the 2007 season he struck out 213 and walked 50 in 216 innings pitched. Vázquez agreed to play for the Puerto Rico Team in the 2006 World Baseball Classic, joining fellow Puerto Rican players representing the island in a team managed by St. Louis Cardinals third base coach Jose Oquendo. In 2008, Vázquez was traded to the Atlanta Braves.
In 2009, Vázquez had what was perhaps his most successful season with 238 strikeouts and 44 walks in 219 innings. Due to this successful season, the New York Yankees re-acquired Vázquez, banking on his reputation as one of the top starters in baseball. In 2010, he became the third active pitcher to beat all 30 MLB teams along with Barry Zito and Jamie Moyer. Unfortunately, he struggled during the regular season and the Yankees temporarily demoted him to the bullpen.
Following the 2010 season he reached an agreement on a one-year, $7 million contract with the Florida Marlins. He finished out the 2011 series that resulted in a knee injury that required right meniscus surgery.
He retired from baseball in 2012 with a career record of 165 wins and 160 losses, a 4.22 earned run average (ERA), and 2,536 strikeouts.
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Contracts & Career Earnings
Over the course of his career, Vázquez signed several lucrative contracts with various teams. In 2004, he signed a four-year, $45 million contract with the Yankees, which was at the time the largest contract ever given to a Latin American pitcher. He later signed a three-year, $34.5 million contract with the White Sox, and a two-year, $16 million contract with the Braves. In total, Vázquez earned over $110 million in salary over the course of his career.
Personal Life
Vázquez is married and has two children. He is known for his charitable work, particularly in Puerto Rico, where he has supported several causes related to education and youth development. After retiring from baseball, Vázquez has remained involved in the sport, working as a pitching coach and scout for various teams.
In 2020, Vázquez was named in a lawsuit against former MLB pitcher Mike Bolsinger, who claimed that Vázquez's performance in a game against his team in 2017 was suspicious and appeared to be the result of sign-stealing. The lawsuit alleged that Vázquez was part of a scheme to steal signs and gain a competitive advantage. Vázquez denied the allegations, and the lawsuit is ongoing.
Despite the controversy, Vázquez is widely regarded as one of the best Puerto Rican pitchers in MLB history, and he has been honored with several awards and accolades for his achievements on the field. He remains a popular figure in Puerto Rico and in the baseball community more broadly.
