MLB Trade Rumors: Why New York Yankees Must Trade Jesus Montero

In just two short weeks, the 2011 MLB Trade Deadline will be upon us.  If there's one team that has a dire need, it's the New York Yankees.

All season long, the starting pitching has been solid but inconsistent, save for CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett.  The remaining pitchers used include Phil Hughes, Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia and Ivan Nova.

Save for Hughes, that group of pitchers has more or less gotten the job done.  Still, something is missing.  To put it bluntly, the Yankees need a top of the line starter like Hiroki Kuroda or Derek Lowe who can help them on the final playoff push as well as be a force in October.

If the team wants to acquire a top pitcher, chances are they will have to part with their top prospect, catcher Jesus Montero.

Considered to be the Yankees' equivalent of Joe Mauer, Montero is regarded as a prospect with a bright future. However, it is uncertain whether his body can handle catching on a regular basis.

He has spent all of this season at Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre, posting a .288 average with seven home runs and 34 RBI in 72 games.  The power numbers as well as overall offense have dropped off considerably from last year, when he hit 21 homers with 75 RBI.

Still, Montero is just 21 years old and has a very high ceiling.  Considering the other catchers the Yankees have in their minor league system, trading the 6'3" Montero wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing.

Simply put, the New York Yankees have to trade Montero for pitching, the sooner the better.  They have two surefire catchers coming up through the ranks in Austin Romine and Gary Sanchez, both of whom scouts believe to be superior defenders than Montero.

Now, I know that there are some gung-ho Yankees fans out there who will cry foul at the idea of Montero being traded.  I ask all of you to please hear me out.

Will Jesus Montero be a top offensive producer in the major leagues one day?  Almost definitely.  Is he worth trading to have a shot at another World Series ring?  Absolutely.

The sad truth is that baseball is still a business and continued success equals more money.  If the Yankees traded Montero for someone like Ubaldo Jimenez or the aforementioned Kuroda, they would be receiving a pitcher who could provide an immediate return on investment while trading away someone who probably won't be ready for at least another year.

Plus, Francisco Cervelli is a good enough catcher that he can hold down the fort for a year or two while Romine and Sanchez continue to develop.

With tons of starting pitching available on the trade market, the New York Yankees need to make a move and include Montero in a package for an arm.

Otherwise, it's going to be a boring October in New York.