I just had a little moment of panic a minute ago, when I clicked over to Twitter and saw that the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners had completed a four-player trade. Then I realized it was the same four-player trade that we first heard about more than a week ago.
Michael Pineda Officially Traded To Yankees In Four-Player Swap
Indeed, the hurdles have been cleared, the players' bodies have been examined, and the Yankees have at last officially traded Jesus Montero and Hector Noesi to the Mariners in exchange for Michael Pineda and Jose Campos. The final delay had to do with Montero having a physical, but he finally had his physical, and, more importantly, he passed his physical. That would've been weird.
Pineda, obviously, will join the Yankees' starting rotation, along with CC Sabathia and Hiroki Kuroda at the front. Campos will report to the minors and be talented. Montero, meanwhile, will be a regular with the Mariners even though it's presently unclear where, and Noesi will get a chance to make the rotation. Campos and Noesi are the forgotten men here, and it's understandable why, but Campos is a very good pitching prospect, and Noesi is a strike thrower who could be a cheap and capable big league starter for a while. So don't forget their names.
The Yankees have their sights set on winning the World Series in 2012, and to that end Pineda will help. The Mariners have their sights set on something a little less lofty, at least in the short term.
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