TheSpread.com

NEW YORK, NY (The Spread) – The New York Yankees have been trying to upgrade their starting pitching for the last two offseasons. They may have finally accomplished their mission on Friday night.

Several reports state that the Yankees and Mariners have agreed to a trade that will send Jesus Montero to Seattle in exchange for right-hander Michael Pineda. There are also reports that the Mariners will receive right-hander Hector Noesi while the Yankees will acquire prospect right-hander Jose Campos in the deal.

The Mariners were in desperate need of offense and Montero certainly fits the bill. He’ll likely be their primary designated hitter although he could see time behind the plate as well. He’s an excellent looking young hitter and has been a part of various trade discussions in the past. Now he finally has a home.

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Pineda, who turns 23 next week, posted a 3.74 ERA and 173/55 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 171 innings as a rookie last season. While he’ll need to adjust to hitter-haven Yankee Stadium (especially coming from pitcher-friendly Safeco Field), he’ll be the perfect complement behind CC Sabathia in the Yankees’ rotation. Suddenly New York has a solid top-of-the-rotation in Sabathia, Pineda and Ivan Nova.

The only question is what the Yankees will do at DH now that Montero (who was projected to serve in that role for New York this upcoming season) is gone. There are reports that the Bombers are interested in free agent Carlos Pena, who could serve as an excellent DH after hitting 28 home runs with the Cubs last season. He’s also very familiar with the American League East after spending four seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays from 2007 through 2010.