Jesus Montero Traded for Michael Pineda: New York Yankees Made a Big Mistake

In what has been a quiet and, more importantly, patient offseason for the New York Yankees has suddenly been flipped upside down in an instant as the Yanks will send Jesus Montero to the Seattle Mariners for starting pitcher Michael Pineda.

Pineda did have an impressive season in 2011, going 9-10 with a 3.74 ERA and making the All-Star Game as a rookie. He certainly proved there is a good shot he can have success in the MLB, but is he promising enough to give up a player the caliber of Montero?

Montero leaving is certainly big news in itself. General manager Brian Cashman and the Bombers have been patient in not pulling the trigger on other deals involving their top prospect. Montero might have found a very important role on this team with Alex Rodriguez constantly having health issues.

It could have been a role too important to trade away with a knee-jerk reaction.

There was never even an inkling this trade was even discussed during the winter, but in pure Yankee style, here it is right in our faces. The sudden nature of this deal makes me wonder who actually brokered such a move. Reports have been rampant that Hal Steinbrenner has been active in talking to free agents and trying to work to make something happen.

This deal has "forced" written all over it because of its inconsistency with the Yankees' approach this offseason. Sure it's a fix that doesn't cost much money-wise, but sometimes value comes in other forms. The talent Montero flashed last season has far more worth than an inexpensive and inexperienced alternative in Pineda.

And do I even have to mention the New York factor? Or how about a better offensive division and a hitter's ballpark? Safeco Field will certainly be more friendly than Yankee Stadium.

It especially wasn't necessary with the news that the Yanks have signed Hiroki Kuroda to a one-year deal. The Bombers needed one pitcher and they got that in Kuroda. There was no sense in taking a chance trading away your best prospect when you didn't need to.

Let's just hope this isn't another Jay Buhner-for-Ken Phelps deal. It appears the Steinbrenner boys have every intention of following in their father's footsteps because this move wreaks of a desperate owner resorting to desperate measures.