Friday, 13 January 2012

Yankees Trade Jesus Montero For Michael Pineda, Sign Hiroki Kuroda To Upgrade Pitching Staff


Yankees Trade Jesus Montero For Michael Pineda, Sign Hiroki Kuroda To Upgrade Pitching Staff.NEW YORK - In just two hours of frantic tonight, the Yankees out a task that took almost two years, radically remaking their rotation by trading slugging phenomenon of Jesus Montero to Seattle for a possible future ace right-hander Michael Pineda and accept the terms with free agent right-hander Hiroki Kuroda.

In the extreme makeover started by general manager Brian Cashman, Kuroda, 36 years old, was offered a reported one-year $ 10 million, according to a person familiar with the maneuvers that asked anonymity because no transactions had been completed.

However, the movements, depends on the players passing physicals, make sure the Yankees will begin the season with one of the rotations in baseball.

The Yankees ace left-hander CC Sabathia surrounding the 16-game winner Ivan Nova, Kuroda and Pineda, the young power pitcher who won the American League All-Star honors as a rookie.

The rotation of a sudden out of low-yield replacement Phil Hughes and AJ Burnett left to duke it out for last place, along with veteran Freddy Garcia provisional.

Finally, the Yankees can have a "mission accomplished" moment, after twice seeing as Cliff Lee got out of hand. After spending the winter in virtual hibernation, Cash man orchestrated an intense standing finally solidified the Yankees on the ultra-competitive American League East.

"Ben has to have a stomach ache," said one major league executive, referring to Boston Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington. "It's a good old-fashioned, (brave) deal of need. Both (teams) should benefit. Cash, if you did well (Pineda), is ongoing."

The executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity in order not to discuss publicly the players from another organization, called re-tooled Yankees' rotation "formidable."

Pineda, who will turn 23 on Wednesday, is already considered as an ace in the making. He posted a mark of 9-10 with an ERA of 3.74. Although faded in the second half - going 3-8 with a 4.74 ERA in his last 17 starts - Pineda scouts tempted by pairing a nasty slider with a straight elite. His fastball averaged 94.7 mph, according to Fangraphs.com, ranking behind him, the Rangers Alexi Ogando, Justin Verlander of the Tigers and the Rays David Price.

"It's a power pitcher with sufficient mandate," the executive said Pineda, who is 6-5 and weighs 245 pounds. "He is young."

This means that it is also cheap. The budget-conscious Yankees will have control of Pineda for five years before he is eligible for free agency.

The instant update came at a heavy price.

Montero, 22, was highly touted prospect in the organization over recent times. And in his short stay in the Bronx, who showed why he has been for years the center of large bass. Montero hit .328 with four homers and 12 RBIs in September and does not seem disturbed by the bright lights of the postseason. His power, especially in the opponent, I could do half of the batting order in the next few years.

But Cashman insisted that the Yankees boasted some "untouchables", and that fair trade would not hesitate to cash in perhaps its most attractive trade chip.

Mariners pitching-rich, desperately needed a power bat, presented a perfect opportunity. The trade seems to emphasize the doubts of the Yankees - despite his public comments - about the ability of Montero to catch in the majors.

"This tells us Montero was not his natural heir," said the executive.

Montero was planned to take a majority of at-bats in the designated location. It is unclear whether the Yankees have enough budget flexibility to sign a replacement or if the veteran players will rotate on the spot. Montero output also paves the way for Austin Romine prestigious prospect of becoming the receiver of the future.
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Trade was a four-players. In addition to Pineda, the Yankees acquired 19-year-old Jose Campos, a strong Dominican right-hander, who is considered a pitching prospect average. Meanwhile, the Yankees fired a 25-year-old pitcher Hector Noesi, which are probably ready to slip into the Mariners' rotation after excelling last season in long relief.

In addition, the Yankees finally got their man in Kuroda, who have tried to acquire in the past. Kuroda, 36, went 13-16 with an ERA of 3.07 with the Dodgers last season. They had made a play to trade for him at the deadline, but the right-hander refused to give up his no-trade clause. As a free agent, was said to have a change of heart about playing in New York.

The signing was made possible when the managing partner Hal Steinbrenner authorized a budget of infusion, a person with knowledge of had been a primary objective of the office.

The Yankees believe Kuroda command will result in the American League East. They see it as a reliable option for tickets to deliver constant, which is more than can be said about Burnett and Hughes, whose future with the organization could be in danger. The Yankees raised the idea of ​​trading Burnett, although it certainly means eating a large portion of the $ 33 million remaining on his contract.

Garcia also could find himself as the odd man out after signing a one year stay. But the Yankees are eager to create more competition in a rotation that had been criticized for its lack of depth.

When pitchers and catchers report in five weeks, will have much competition.

"I have only to go and throw," said Garcia, who was not surprised by the news when he arrived at his home in Venezuela. "That's all I can do."

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