Bomber Bites With Jumping Joe–Michael Pineda’s Star Shining Bright for 2015

Michael Pineda has had an interesting road to the Bronx.  In 2011, Pineda was an All-Star rookie for the Seattle Mariners.  That off-season, Pineda was traded to the Yankees in one of the most controversial trades in recent memory for catching super prospect Jesus Montero and pitcher Hector Noesi.  Over the last few years, the arguments and debates over who got the better end of the deal has raged incessantly.  Pineda showed up to spring training in 2012 overweight and then was injured.  He would not play in the majors for the next two years.  Meanwhile, after a decent rookie campaign, Montero battled injures and the buffet line with the Mariners, before ultimately being dismissed from the team earlier this season after an incident with a Mariners’ scout involved an ice cream sandwich.  Noesi has bounced around as a long reliever and spot starter with a few different organizations.

Mandatory Credit: Chad R. MacDonald.

Early this season, it finally looked like the debate would be put to rest in the Yankees’ favor once and for all.  Pineda made the rotation out of spring training, and dominated in April.  However, his season was derailed when he was caught using a foreign substance to doctor the baseball on ESPN against the Red Sox.  He was promptly suspended for 10 games.  Then to add insult to injury, Pineda injured his lat and shoulder while suspended, and suffered numerous setbacks in his recovery, which lasted months.  Finally recovered, Pineda picked up where he left off, and has pitched very well down the stretch.

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Pineda had to win the fifth starter’s job in spring training this year to even break into the rotation.  Now, he may be the number one starter on the team.  Looking forward to 2015, Pineda may very well be the ace of the rotation, and number one starter next season.  In my opinion, Masahiro Tanaka pitched well enough in his first start since July on Sunday, but his UCL is still torn and might still need Tommy John surgery at some point.  CC Sabathia was pitching poorly before he hurt his knee and may take a while to regain his form as he makes his comeback.  Ivan Nova won’t be ready until mid-season as he rehabs from Tommy John surgery.  Hiroki Kuroda will likely retire.  Brandon McCarthy is a free agent.  The Yankees may sign a free agent like McCarthy, Jon Lester, James Shields or Max Scherzer, but even if they do, Pineda might still be the 1 or 2 starter heading into next season.  Thus, finally fulfilling on the promise that GM Brian Cashman and the Yankees saw when the traded for him years ago.