Jesus Montero and Michael Pineda each rated among MLB‘s top 25 prospects entering the 2011 season, and after the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners swapped them as part of a four-player deal Friday, their profiles are not shrinking anytime soon.
This was a big deal unto itself, but even bigger ones could now be on the way. In a market taking seemingly forever to fully develop, this deal might be the catalyst to kick many teams and players into gear.
The Yankees added Pineda and free-agent hurler Hiroki Kuroda to their rotation, but now, they may be in the market for a designated hitter. Meanwhile, the Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers and other elite teams throughout the league will try to answer the Yankees’ shot across their bows. Here are the next five big moves this deal could incite.