The Pineda Time Line

 

 There is a lot to write about the Michael Pineda and Jesus Montero trade. 

I wrote back in January that it would take a few years before we can completely judge the trade either way.

But if a trade can be evaluated short term, it is obviously a disaster for the Yankees. 

There's no other way to say it. He was brought in to be a young solid arm in the rotation and make the Yankees not rely on old veterans.

He's going to play Sudoku all year and won't pitch and the Yankees are waiting for Andy Pettitte. That's a failure.

Now Cashman's many defenders are acting like this injury is just a piece of bad luck. What are the chances that a solid young arm could get injured while under contract with the Yankees? (Let's ask Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Chein Ming Wang.)

With almost zero research, I noted that Pineda had a lousy second half last year. That was a red flag for me. 

But ignoring that, and saying that he was worth the Yankees best trade chip, there still is something odd about the time line.

The trade was made in January and supposedly he had a medical exam.

In February he showed up to spring training looking like Professor Sherman Klump.

In March his fast ball wouldn't have gotten a ticket. He went on the disabled list.

In April his season was over and who knows what the Yankees will get in 2013.

So if Cashman is correct and he checked out in January, then his body collapsed over two months and Pineda evidently hit the all you can eat at Sizzler often.

What is worse?

The Yankees sending their best trade chip for a broken down pitcher or bringing in a healthy pitcher and having him break down in 2 months on your watch.

It's a riddle. 

And Pineda has time to ponder it.

Cashman... you better hope Pineda's injury isn't serious

First of all, let's not get crazy about Michael Pineda's injury.
It is shoulder tendinitis. It's not like he has a torn rotator cuff or needs Tommy John surgery or his season is in danger.

And there is no way to judge the Pineda for Montero trade even at the end of this year. It will take 2 or 3 years before we know who got the best of the deal.

That being said, if I were Brian Cashman I'd be smacking my head thinking "Are you f---ing kidding me?"

His grand plan to have the Yankees become a team of good solid young pitchers has been going on since 2007. Remember when the pitching staff was going to be built on the backs Hughes, Kennedy and Joba?

That was 5 years ago.
Hughes is still around. He wasn't much use last year but evidently looked good this spring.
Kennedy is a Cy Young contender... for Arizona.
And Joba Chamberlain's career has been derailed by the team's indecisions, Tommy John surgery and his addiction to jumping on trampolines.

So now it is Hughes, Nova and Michael Pineda.
Nova has looked like crap this spring. And now Pineda is starting the season on the D.L.

A lot is riding on this for Cashman.
He sent off the player who was being built up as the next Yankee star for Pineda to kickstart his 6th annual "No, THIS time we are building a young rotation" crusade.

And here it is starting with more uncertainty.
What's the Yankees infusion of Youth?
Andy Pettitte?

All the while the Rays are overflowing with young pitching.

You had better help Pineda heals fast, Cashman.
The best trade chip has already been used.

A very interesting trade...

Michael Pineda for Jesus Montero.

I am not sure what to make of this trade between the Mariners and the Yankees.

On the one hand it seems to make sense for both teams.

On the other hand it makes sense for neither team.

It's not often a trade can be so perplexing but at the same time refreshing.

For the Yankees, they got Michael Pineda. At 23 years old he has already made the All Star team and gives New York youth they desperately need in the pitching staff.

Then again, he tailed off badly in the second half and seemed to pitch better in pitcher friendly Safeco Field. And the AL East beat him like a drum. And his home run rate rose dramatically in the second half.

Cause for concern?

Meanwhile the Jesus Montero era in New York lasted a whopping 18 regular season and 1 post season game.

The future home grown slugger is heading to the Pacific Northwest and presumably his #63 will never be retired in Monument Park.

He's a right handed masher who was ranked one of the top 5 prospects in all of baseball in back to back seasons.

Maybe he's not a long term solution at catcher but he could have caught a season with Russell Martin and split DH duties.

He might have been part of a NEW "Core Four!"

But off he goes. A homegrown talent going to spend his career elsewhere.

Some Mariner blogs are comparing him to Miguel Cabrera.

Then again lots of bloggers complained to me when I didn't call Colby Rasmus an elite player. It's one thing to be a prospect.

It's another thing to produce.

(I'm looking at YOU Alex Ochoa.)

And hitting doesn't win titles. Pitching does. The Yankees were banking on the likes of Freddy Garcia, Phil Hughes and A. J. Burnett to keep them in 60% of their games. You can always sign a hitter, but 23 year old All Star pitchers don't grow on trees?

Pineda joins a staff where he, Ivan Nova and Phil Hughes would all be under 26. Suddenly the rotation isn't so ancient. They are a turn around season from Hughes away from Cashman's vision of a young core of pitchers backing up Sabathia.

Throw in David Robertson and suddenly the Yankees might have their pitching foundation for the next 6 or 7 years.

(Just ask Joba Chamberlain.)

Provided Pineda isn't a one year fluke who gets torched in Yankee Stadium. (Remember how Jeff Weaver was going to be the young ace of the team?)

But there is more than one team in this deal.

The Mariners stink.

They've lost 95 or more games 3 of the last 4 years.

And with Ichiro in the final year of his deal, his Mariner tenure will likely end without a single World Series appearance.

The same was said for Griffey's time in Seattle...

And Edgar Martinez's...

And Randy Johnson's...

And Alex Rodriguez's...

And no doubt Felix Hernandez's time will end pennant-less in the Pacific Northwest.

They need to mix it up. And a player that Brian Cashman once said could be a new Manny Ramirez.

Maybe put Montero along side young Justin Smoak and Dustin Ackley and the Mariners will build a nice line up.

But I thought the Mariners best hopes to finally win the pennant was to take the Giants blue print. Stockpile pitching and win around your dynamic ace.

And the West could be won with great pitching. And shut down an East, Central or Wild Card opponent in a short series then play a National League style World Series... that was the Mariners ticket.

And I thought Michael Pineda could have been the Matt Cain to Hernandez's Lincecum.

So what's my take on the trade?

I literally have no clue.

It could be great for both or blow up in both of their faces.

The Yankees could have their young rotation and the Mariners could get a dominant lineup.

Or the Yankees could have a bust pitcher while the Mariners picked up a hitter with no position who can't handle big league pitching.

Maybe they should have stayed on their original teams.