The New York Yankees have acquired young right-hander Michael Pineda from the Seattle Mariners for top hitting prospect Jesus Montero.
The trade was first reported by CBS Sports. The Mariners also received Yankees right-hander Hector Noesi in the deal.
Pineda, who turns 23 next week, is a potentially dominant starter who struck out 173 batters in 171 innings for Seattle last season. He won six of his first 10 starts and as late as May 21 had a 2.16 ERA. He’s 6-7 and 260 pounds, and features a slider famously described by the late Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus as “diabolical.”
Pineda eventually faded a bit in his rookie season, but finished 9-10 with a 3.74 ERA, very respectable numbers for a pitcher in his first exposure to major league hitters.
Montero, the long hyped Yankees catching prospect, made his debut at the tail end of the 2011 season, hitting .328 in 61 regular season at-bats before making the postseason roster.
Pineda will form a lethal 1-2 punch with C.C. Sabathia for years to come. Christmas came later this year for Yankees fans, but it did come.
