Just when you thought I was probably done with writing about baseball forever (me to), the Seattle Mariners woke me up tonight by sending the young flame-throwing Michael Pineda and pitching prospect Jose Campas across the country to the New York Yankees in exchange for Jeseus Montero and Hector Noesi. As much as I hate to see Pineda go I’m glad we got Jesus Montero this time though it remains to be seen exactly where he will play due to his weak defensive skills.

Montero as you recall almost came this way in the Cliff Lee sweepstakes and of course this deal isn’t for sure as everyone has to pass their physicals, but it looks like a fair swap for now. Campas has never pitched at a level higher than Everett, but lots of folks were high on him. As for the 24 year-old Hector Noesi he made 30 appearances for the Yankees last year all but two of them out of the bullpen, but he is indeed Major League ready as they say and could possibly end-up at the back of the rotation.

The Mariners will probably need to go out and get another veteran starter for sure now and Roy Oswalt at around $8 million a year sounds like the kind of guy I would like to see Jack Z. grab, but who knows what is happening out there in the wheeling and dealing world of the offseason GM’s.

This trade does pose some other interesting questions like where does Mike Carp fit into things now that the M’s have a power-hitting catcher that may be more suited for DH, does Carp go to camp trying to prove he can play left? Or is he going to shuffle around between first, DH, and left? Of course there is the question of the sudden glut of catchers with Montero, Olivo, Moore and our other catcher, whats his name from the Rays. Oh and don’t forget Casper Wells who I had penciled in to play left next year barring some other upgrade, where does he go if Carp moves to left? In short this trade sets off a chain reaction that will give the other full time Mariners Blogs and facebook journalists lots to talk about for the next week or so, as if any of us can predict or control the future with endless rants and projections of our own  without all the information.

Of course this trade probably means the whole Prince Fielder discussion will end with a thud, which isn’t a bad thing either unless he ends-up playing for the Rangers. I look for Jack Z. to make another move probably sooner than later that will hopefully address the need for another quality starter and maybe even solve the third-base puzzle. Until then I’m going back to my off-season pursuits like NFL Football and dreaming about places where the sun is shining, who knows if Jack Z. makes a couple moves to fill the hole in the rotation and does something at third I may return to Peoria next month after all….Go M’s! http://jeffsmariners.com

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