"You didn't really believe the Yankees were going to stay quiet all offseason, did you? With a pair of moves last night, the Yankees renovated their rotation, surrendering top offensive prospect Jesus Montero in the process.

The Yankees shipped Montero and right-handed pitcher Hector Noesi to Seattle for 6-foot-7 right-hander Michael Pineda and pitching prospect Jose Campos. In addition, the Yankees signed former Dodgers right-hander Hiroki Kuroda for one year at $10 million. Both moves are not finalized until physicals are completed and approved.

Montero had long been the prize of the Yankees' farm system and he honored some of the hype with a 61-at-bat cameo last year in which he hit .328 with four homers and 12 RBIs. He had been penciled in as the starting designated hitter and a part-time catcher for 2012, but figures to play a much larger role in Seattle's moribund lineup.

The Yankees will now weigh adding a bat to offset the loss of Montero. Owner Hal Steinbrenner had to be pushed to expand the payroll for Kuroda, so he might not be willing to do much more for a hitter. Thus, Prince Fielder is definitely not in the Yankees' plans; but free agents such as Carlos Pena or Johnny Damon could be if the price is right.

Montero was part of the July 2010 trade to the Mariners for Cliff Lee that fell apart when Yankees second base prospect David Adams failed Seattle's physical."