The Yankees made a deal and a signing this weekend, that was a swift punch in the gut to the Red Sox and AL East. The Yankees traded it's young slugging DH Prospect Jesus Montero for Seattle starting pitcher Michael Pineda. And then signed Hiroki Kuroda.
So when the Red Sox are making a splash by signing Aaron Cook, Carlos Silva and my favorite player Vicente Padilla, the Yankees traded for a 23 year old flamethrower in Pineda and will be an 18 game winner for the next 8-10 years. Pineda is one of the game's most exciting, up-and-coming right-handers. An All-Star as a rookie after beginning the season with a 3.03 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 9.00 strikeouts-per-nine innings ratio, in the second half he struggled he managed quality starts in just six of 10 appearances and had a 5.12 ERA and 1.22 WHIP. So at the end of the day he had 3.74 ERA with a 9-10 record and 173 Ks in 171 innings. And that was his rookie season.
Kuroda will be whatever for them, token 4 or 5 starter.
Meanwhile, if any Yankee fan is upset about getting rid of Montero they are dumb. The Yankees gave a DH for top of the rotation starter. Also, it's smart that the Yankees leave that DH spot semi open, they have a lot of aging guys in A-Rod, Jeter, Teixiera and even Nick Swisher. They can find a way to fill that spot with Eduardo Nunez taking the field.
I also love the deal for the Mariners who don't have any type of offense and got a guy who before went to the Mariners had 35 home run potential and opposite field power. Montero probably see his power drop in Seattle a little, but he should still hit for average.