Pineda, Montero Swapped (and what it means)

It's a trade that may not seem like a huge deal to casual baseball fans. But a few years from now, this deal could have a profound impact on the Yankees, and be an integral part to getting the Mariners back on track.

New York has dealt DH/C Jesus Montero and relief pitcher Hector Noesi to the M's in exchange for phenom pitcher Michael Pineda and the righthander Jose Campos.

Noesi is a 24-year-old reliever who posted a 4.47 ERA and 45 strikeouts is his rookie campaign. Campos has yet to sniff the bigs.

Maybe those two guys will turn into decent players. Time will tell. The other two involved, Montero and Pineda, have superstar potential.

While his ability to catch is in question, Jesus Montero has extraordinary talent with his bat. After some struggles in triple-A, Montero went on to hit .328 with four bombs and 28 ribbies in just 18 games last year with the Yanks. Had he stayed in New York, he would have been the everyday DH.

I've had the pleasure of watching Montero when he played for the double-A affiliate of the Yankees, the Trenton Thunder. Let's just say the man could hit.

Michael Pineda may continue to morph into the additional impact starter behind CC Sabathia the Yankees have yearned for. He's only 22, but he showed he was major league ready in his rookie campaign with Seattle. He posted a 3.74 ERA, with 173 Ks in 171 innings. His stat line included a sparkiling 1.10 WHIP, and opposing batters hit just .211 against him. The sophomore possesses electrifying stuff, and the Yankees' hope is he will create an imposing 1-2 punch with CC is the postseason.

The deal, while widely said to favor the Yanks, is logical for the M's as well. Loaded with young arms, everyday position players are a scarcity in the organization.

Both of these players are already on the brink of stardom. In Seattle, Montero won't have the pressure of playing in New York as he develops. Seattle has some of the best fans in sports, but to say they will contend for their division is borderline absurd. Pineda, on the other hand, will have to adjust to facing the big guns of the AL East, and the hardships that comes with playing in the Bronx.

Behind Sabathia, Pineda, and Ivan Nova, the Yankees' rotation is in question. Phil Hughes, Freddy Garcia, A.J. Burnett and newly-signed Hiroki Kuroda will contend for the final two spots. Suddenly, this rotation looks like one to be reckoned with.

The organization probably will root for Hughes and Burnett to fill the 4-5 spots; Hughes because he's young and still shows potential, and Burnett because of the cash invested in him. Burnett had a rough year before redeeming himself in his divisional playoff start.

Kuroda's situation is interesting. His ERA was 3.07 with the Dodgers last year, ace material on a number of teams. But if he doesn't impress in Spring Training, he could find himself coming out of the pen.

Kuroda's acquisition is now silver lining with Pineda coming to the Bronx. Brian Cashman and the Yankees organization can only hope he is worth giving up Montero, a guy who could be an icon in Seattle for years to come.

Reunited

Cliff Lee is back in Philadelphia. With his acquisition, the Phillies rotation for 2011 is regarded as one of the best ever. His Phillies contract is approximately for 30 million less than what he was offered by the Yankees, but Lee wanted to play in Philly.

The Phillies rotation now features Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, and Roy Oswalt. With this rotation, three game losing losing streaks will almost disappear entirely, regardless of offensive slumps. The Phillies have turned into most people's pick to win the Series.

I know I was one of those fans who, when the Phillies traded away Lee in order to acquire Halladay, with wishful thinking thought of how awesome it'd be for the Phillies to keep both. Now the dream of many fans in Philly has come true. Lee, from day one, was a fan favorite over here, and him taking a 30 mil pay cut will only endear him to Phils fan even further.

With now sky-high expectations in Philly, what does this mean for the Yankees, whose 7-year offer for Lee didn't happen? Well, now they go into the spring with only two definite starters, C.C. Sabathia and Phil Hughes. It does free up more space in terms of signing other players, but the depth of 2011's free agent class is especially weak.

Lee's deal surprised almost everyone in the baseball world, and the Phillies couldn't be happier with the return, this time for five long years.