In the ever-changing debate of who got the better end of a prospect blockbuster trade, the Yankees will gain a small victory on Tuesday. Michael Pineda, the prized acquisition in a deal which sent top hitting prospect, Jesus Montero, to Seattle, will begin his journey back to the mound by throwing in extended spring training.
Pineda, now 24-years-old, made his major league debut as a 22-year-old in 2011. After a dominating first half of the season, the hard-throwing righty fell off and found a dip in velocity, finishing the year with a 9-10 record and 3.74 ERA.
The two starter for the Mariners still surrendered just 133 hits in 171 innings and struck out 173, yielding just a .211 BAA and 1.10 WHIP, showing promise as a dominating front-end starter.
Pineda began spring training in 2012 and never quite gained his velocity and eventually missed the whole season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his pitching shoulder.
Originally due back by Opening Day, Pineda has suffered multiple setbacks, most recently cutting a finger on his pitching hand because his nail was too short. The plan from here is for Pineda to throw extended spring training once and then begin a rehab assignment with a Yankees’ minor league team on his next scheduled start.
With the latest setback sidelining him an extra week, Pineda projects to be Major League ready by the first week of July. The Yankees have not run into many pitching issues this season, but finding him a role in the Bronx this year would be beneficial long-term.
Andy Pettitte, Hiroki Kuroda and Phil Hughes are all Free Agents after 2013, with only CC Sabathia under contract and in the rotation from this season’s Opening Day. Ivan Nova, the original fifth starter, has struggled and battled his own injuries,while David Phelps, Brett Marshall and Vidal Nuno do not have the same kind of front-line stuff Pineda possesses.
If the Yankees can bring one of Pettitte or Kuroda (specifically Kuroda) back, they can augment Sabathia and Kuroda with Pineda, Phelps and Nuno or Nova and let: Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Pettitte safely come off the books in a year heavily restricted by a self imposed salary cap.
