"It's not that Larry Rothschild isn't sorry to see Jesus Montero go.

The Yankees' pitching coach knows the talent of the organization's former top offensive prospect.

But if they had to give Montero up for someone, he's glad it's Michael Pineda.

"I'm excited to get him," Rothschild said yesterday outside the Yankees' spring training complex. "He's got the tools to become an ace."

Pineda, 23, was unimpressive in the second half of the season, when he went 3-8 with a 4.74 ERA in his last 17 starts and finished 9-10.

"He's going to go through the same things everyone else goes through," Rothschild said. "It's not going to happen overnight, but he has the tools to get there.""