Only four short days ago, I wrote an article about the Yankees’ quiet off-season. Funny how quickly things can change. In a blockbuster trade, the Yankees sent their top prospect, catcher/DH Jesus Montero and pitcher Hector Noesi to Seattle for pitchers Felix Hernandez Michael Pineda and Jose Campos. Everyone is very familiar with Montero’s body of work and lack of position, but may not know much about Pineda. Pineda, 22, struck out 173 hitters in 171 innings as a rookie, the highest rookie strikeout total since Kerry Wood struck out 223 in 1998.
In a ‘lesser’ move, the Yankees signed veteran pitcher, Hiroki Kuroda to a one-year, $10 million deal. Kuroda, a pure control pitcher, posted the ninth-best ERA in the NL last year (3.07) and has given the Dodgers at least 195 innings in the last two seasons.
To put it simply, the Yankees got the better end of the Montero-Pineda deal and signed a rock solid #3 pitcher for virtually no risk. Brian Cashman’s patience once again paid off and the Yanks will reap the benefits in 2012 and beyond…
Michael Pineda Is Bronx Bound--AP Photo
