To those yearning for the Yankees to make a big bang, your catharsis is here.
Jerry Crasnick first reported that the Mariners were on the verge of a significant trade for a “young, impact hitter.” And that hitter is Jesus Montero. Jon Heyman is reporting Montero has been sent to Seattle for second-year right-hander Michael Pineda. More players are involved, apparently Hector Noesi is en route to the Emerald City.
More later.
UPDATE 8:12 p.m. Pending physicals, it's Montero and Noesi for Pineda and Class-A right-hander Jose Campos. In addition, Jack Curry broke the news on the Yankees and Hiroki Kuroda agreeing to a one-year-deal.
THE BREAKDOWN
Just like he did two days before Christmas 2008, Brian Cashman proved he's more adept at flying stealth than the Red Baron. What Cashman has done is trade away Montero, who could turn out to become one of the game's great hitters in addition to a defensive liability, for Pineda, who despite that second-half swoon (1-5, 5.71 ERA in his last 11 games) is just 22 years old and on the path to becoming an ace. In his first 17 starts, Pineda went 8-5 with a 2.58 ERA while holding opponents to a .193 batting average. You win with top-shelf pitching and the Yanks have stockpiled their Major League roster and farm system to where former No. 1 pick Phil Hughes could be ticketed for the bullpen -- or perhaps another trade.
The Yankees applied patience and practically to their offseason gameplan, which bore fruit with not only the fresh, hard-throwing Pineda, but a jewel in Campos, a 19-year-old righty that an executive told Joel Sherman he'd be a "no-doubt" top-10 pick if he were in this year's draft.
Meditate on this for a minute: The Yankees' future rotation will comprise of CC Sabathia, Pineda, Ivan Nova, Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances -- with Campos the latest stud prospect to develop in their fertile system. Giving up Montero was hard, but the Yankees have proclaimed they mean serious business in not only competing for a title this year, but maintaining an elite program for the foreseeable future.
Follow Jon Lane on Twitter: @JonLaneNYC
