Ranking Brian Cashman's worst pitching trades for Yankees

2012: Michael Pineda

Big Mike! What do you remember him more for? His incredible 13-start stretch in 2014 ... or when he was ejected during a game against the Boston Red Sox that same year for using pine tar?

Gotta be the latter, right?! All in all, this was a big "nothing" trade. The Yankees sent catcher Jesus Montero and pitcher Hector Noesi to the Seattle Mariners for Pineda and pitcher Jose Campos. But far too much trust was placed in Pineda to deliver, which was the ultimate problem here.

In the end, injuries and lackluster play characterized Pineda's stint with the team from 2014-2017 (31-31, 4.16 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 89 starts). And then, in classic Yankees fashion, Pineda left, went to the Minnesota Twins, and somehow finished 22-13 with a 3.80 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 53 starts there from 2019-2021. Every time they leave, they perform better. You can't make it up.

Pineda was unable to separate himself from a wack pack that consisted of an aging CC Sabathia, Ivan Nova, Nathan Eovaldi and eventually He Who Must Not Be Named. It was a weak crew, and Pineda was weaker or just as weak.