As I reflected on the New York Yankees following their 2011 Division Series loss to the Detroit Tigers, the feeling was not optimistic, to say the least. While I was very proud of the 2011 team and all they accomplished given the pitching rotation in place, I certainly doubted the future of the team.The lineup looked great without question; Robinson Cano, Brett Gardner, Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeira are all young, and I still believe Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter have productive years left in them. The pitching staff is ...
Whether you like the trade of Jesus Montero and Hector Noesi for Michael Pineda and Jose Campos or not—and to be clear, this writer does not—you have to think that Brian Cashman is absolutely relishing the role he's played in all of this.This is the kind of deal that makes Cashman feel good about himself, the kind he would like the world to think he would make a habit of pulling off regularly if he was running a low-budget team as opposed to the richest in the game. That Cashman gets to leave Scott ...
The New York Yankees' quiet winter came to an end in a loud way on Friday night, when they traded power-hitting catcher Jesus Montero along with Hector Noesi to the Seattle Mariners for top pitching prospect Michael Pineda and Minor League hurler Jose Campos (via MLB.com)Just about an hour later, news broke that New York's rotation would be further boosted with the signing of free-agent right-hander Hiroki Kuroda to a one-year, $10 million deal (via ESPN).In less than 60 minutes, Ivan Nova went from the Bombers' second to fourth starter, ...
Despite laying quietly in the weeds for the entire offseason, the New York Yankees were extremely busy on Friday, making great strides in shoring up a starting rotation that had a lot of holes in 2011 and was a question mark heading into 2012. First, they traded their top prospect and potential stud catcher/DH Jesus Montero to Seattle for one of the majors' brightest young power arms in Michael Pineda. Later, they signed veteran pitcher Hiroki Kuroda to a one-year contract worth a reported $10 million. In doing so, they ...
What a night.First, Jesus Montero gets shipped out of town for Michael Pineda, and now Brian Cashman finally gets the Japanese pitcher he has lusted after for almost a year.While Hiroki Kuroda is no spring chicken—the righty turns 37 next month—the Yankees have signed him to a one-year deal for between $10 and $11 million, pending a physical.Kuroda has only pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers over his four-year major league career, but the veteran has the ability to pitch in the AL East, arguably baseball's toughest division.With the Dodgers, ...
News around the big leagues on Friday night was overshadowed by the trade between the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners, involving two highly valued prospects. It would send Jesus Montero to Seattle, and rookie All-Star Michael Pineda to fill out the rotation in the Bronx.However, New York did make another move that might finally give them a very good rotation for their 28th World Series Championship, agreeing to terms with pitcher Hiroki Kuroda. The contract is reportedly to be a one-year deal worth $10 million.Kuroda, who will be 37 years of ...
Both the New York Yankees and the Seattle Mariners have been quiet this off season. It looked as if both teams were content to go into the season without making any major moves.Then it was reported that the Yankees and Mariners have agreed on a deal that will swap two of the top prospects in the game. The Yankees will send catcher Jesus Montero to Seattle in exchange for pitcher Michael Pineda.This trade is a perfect move for both teams: The Mariners were in need of an offensive catcher and the ...
Friday night brought baseball fans a blockbuster deal between the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners. The four-player swap will send catcher Jesus Montero and pitcher Hector Noesi to Seattle in exchange for 2011 breakout pitcher Michael Pineda as well as minor league pitcher Jose Campos. On the surface this seems like a great trade that includes some of the baseball's most highly touted young players.In 2011, Michael Pineda showed the baseball world why he may be a future number one starter. He finished the season with nine wins and a ...
After an offseason of near silence, the New York Yankees pulled the trigger on a trade today.As a result, C/DH Jesus Montero and RHP Hector Noesi go to the Seattle Mariners for RHP Michael Pineda and 19-year-old pitching prospect Jose Campos, according to Greg Johns of MLB.com.While the deal allows both teams to fill a glaring needs, it's hard to not wonder if the Yankees overpaid. After all, Pineda is a 22-year-old All-Star with seemingly limitless potential. But I can't help but remember that Yankees pitcher Phil Hughes—now a question mark ...
The New York Yankees have had their share of outstanding catchers over the past century, so where does Jorge Posada rank on that list?With the 40-year-old veteran reportedly set to announce his retirement in the next few weeks, let's count down the top 10 backstops in the storied history of this franchise...Begin Slideshow