WHY MONTERO FOR PINEDA WILL PROVE GENIUS

We all wanted to see Jesus Montero become a Yankee superstar. He had a baby face, soft demeanor and he mashed the hell out of the ball. But one thing that he not was, was in the Yankees future plans. When you have a kid that everyone wants, and you need pitching, something's got to give. Cashman gave... he gave the guy he told all Yankee fans he wanted to keep. Surprising? Not really. I've said it plenty and I'll say it again... Brian Cashman is a big fat liar, like the movie with Paul Giamatti, but in Cashman's case, it's all poker face and no flinch... just so he can find the right move to make to better the New York Yankees and if that means keeping the fans out of the plan... so be it. I have no problem with it. The Yankees just got a very good pitcher in return. Michael Pineda is very talented, young and an excellent fit for the Yankees rotation. He's my automatic #2 or #3, without a doubt. People feel in love with Jesus Montero after those few weeks at the end of 2011, and I get it. I was excited to see big things too, but what's done is done. It's not like the Yankees just signed Kevin Brown at the end of his career, Pineda is a different animal and a bigger deal than you can imagine. In fact, it could one day prove to all of Major League Baseball that Brian Cashman is a very smart General Manager, without a doubt.Hector Noesi was also part of the deal, the Yankees received minor leaguer Jose Campos. Noesi did great work for us, but the writing was on the wall. The way they were using Noesi, it was almost obvious to me that if he didn't get traded at last year's deadline, he would eventually be traded this winter. Every piece I wrote about trade theories had Noesi thrown in. Sometimes you just know when a pitcher isn't sticking around. I wish both Noesi and Montero the best of luck, for sure.But now we have something big happening in Yankeeland, all on Friday the 13th. No doubt we'll all be talking about these deals, the Pineda/Montero deal and the signing of Hiroki Kuroda all weekend, maybe even mid-week. Yankeeland is buzzing...many hate the deal, many love it. I'm just excited, the Yankees needed pitching and we just got pitching. I would have never taken Hiroki Kuroda as my only signing, but taking him with someone like Michael Pineda makes sense. Kuroda is a back end guy, and Pineda is top to middle. A rotation of CC Monster, Michael Pineda, Ivan Nova, Hiroki Kuroda, Freddy Garcia looks damn good. Sure, we have Phil Hughes and AJ Burnett, but let's be honest, the Yankees just made some hard choices, do you really think they're going to feel bad that Burnett may not have a spot in the rotation now? Sure, I supposed Garcia and Burnett can duke it out, but the Yankees just signed Garcia to be a 5th starter... could another trade be coming involving AJ Burnett?And Phil Hughes? Well, it is my estimation that the bullpen is where Phil Hughes should be. With all the headache last season, it's only right that he build himself up again. Sure, maybe one day he can be a starter, but I love him in the pen, without a doubt.

One thing we can't do is panic. The Yankees have a better team right now, better than we had 12 hours ago. I believe that, and it all stems from the pitching we've been dying to have. Well, we just got it and pitching wins ballgames.... don't forget it.

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