Michael Pineda has a tear in his right labrum and will undergo arthroscopic surgery next Tuesday, according to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News (Twitter link). The 23-year-old will likely miss a full year, MLB.com's Bryan Hoch tweets. The Yankees acquired Pineda in an offseason trade that sent their top hitting prospect to the Mariners, but the right-hander has yet to pitch his first inning in pinstripes.
On paper the Yankees have a relatively deep rotation even without Pineda. Andy Pettitte continues working his way back to the Major Leagues, where he’s expected to join C.C. Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda, Ivan Nova, Phil Hughes and Freddy Garcia.
Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports examined the Pineda-Jesus Montero trade earlier today (before this afternoon's news), declaring the Mariners the early winners of the swap. Yankees GM Brian Cashman says Pineda was healthy when the Yankees acquired him in January, Hoch tweets. Pineda, a rookie in 2011, won't be arbitration eligible until the 2013-14 offseason.
Wow. Young pitchers are the scariest thing on earth
How long is the recovery for labrum surgery?
Hes done for the year. Wow we practically gave away Montero for nothing. Word is the tear is that severe that he best place now would be back end of the rotation when he comes back
Could it be career-ending? I mean, Pineda is a MASSIVE man, I’ve met him before and he’s huge in person. I would think it would be easier for him to recover from it than say Lincecum or Tim Hudson
I doubt its career ending. But I have not seen any pitcher who has come back 100% again after this surgery. Jake Peavy comes to mind
Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling come to mind.
Peaveys surgeries were all a bit different than this
There hasn’t been any word that it’s that severe.
Wow we practically gave away Montero for nothing.
One year out of FIVE. The Yankees have Pineda for 5 years. Too early to judge the trade unless Montero turns into a superstar.
It’s the Yankees. We expect to win every year. Pineda was crucial this year. Its only fortunate that Pettitte decided to attempt a comeback. Otherwise our rotation would be screwed at this rate
“It’s the Yankees. We expect to win every year.” The Yankees are the only team that expects to win every year?
I’m referring to the fact that every year the Yankees motto is championship or lost season. Not every team is like that. Pineda was crucial to the season and losing him is going to a be a huge factor
If he is so crucial then why isnt anyone now suddenly worried about 2012? Yanks will be fine
For now their fine. but a rotation with 2-3 questionable for any team is always going to be problematic
Don’t know the details of this this one, but some pitchers never really come back from labrum tears.
It’s gotten better, but yeah.. Wayne Garland always comes to my mind when think of destruction and labrum tears.
Dustin Mcgowan has had a long slow recovery back as well and he’s still on the DL.
I actually had the surgery myself and I never regained my arm strength, which is part of the reason I became a professional arm chair gm
” I became a professional arm chair gm”
Not true. You are far too modest.. AA simply cannot make a move without consulting his top man.
he calls me for recomendations on greek restaurants, thats about it.
I know it’s not the same issue, but any time I hear “pitcher” and “shoulder injury” in the same sentence I can’t help but think Brandon Webb.
which is unfortunately more of the norm than pitchers coming back from tommy john..
Wow Marosi…the team that has gotten more than 0 play from the player they acquired was the early winner? That was a risky statement to make.
This will be like Carl Pavano except without all the money; they just lost the potential next best (hitting) catcher in baseball is all.
And we’re using “catcher” loosely.
Whatever makes Yankees fans swallow that Cashman sized pill.
I think I get called a Yankee fan on here too much…
It’s that Beatles pic.. Gotta be Kevin 🙂
Right? I thought people were supposed to refrain from personal insults on this site.
Jesus Montero’s future is as a DH/back up catcher/first baseman.
Basically a Victor Martinez but not as good defensively.
He’s shown WAY greater potential than that. His composure behind the plate has been great. He is most definite our catcher of the future.
Maybe but he’s never been projected as a full time catcher.
If his bat comes around, you’re not going to want him as your every day catcher.
The Mariners will eventually play him at catcher everyday and I think he’ll develop great defensively.
Wow wow wow slow down there buddy! Montero has shown nothing offensively to have himself compared to V-mart.
thats not true at all
How so? He has only had 35 hits in the majors so far. Until he has a full season where he hits .300 or higher with 20 homer power and 90+ rbi, no comparisons to V-mart should be made.
he just turned 22. vmart didn’t get his first ab’s in the majors until he was 23.
Jamie Moyer is 49 and still better than Dontrelle Willis, what exactly is your point?
that doesn’t make much sense..
Reality is Montero has better numbers than Vmart in the minors and posted them at a younger age. he’s not a lock to be as good as vmart was over his career, but in the very least the potential is there.
not sure why you cant admit that
Well we all know that numbers in the minors dont necessarily translate to success in the majors. Potential is good to have but I don’t see how his numbers in the minors mean he will have a career like V-mart. The Moyer comment was really that age doesn’t mean much…especially when its a difference of 1 or 2 years in age. Some players develop slower than others and sometimes that is an advantage as well.
I was just talking about his role with the Mariners/Yankees… I wasn’t saying he is Victor Martinez.
He can’t hit like Victor Martinez either, yet!
Either could victor at age 22!
@DJ Wilson, I had labrum surgery in my throwing shoulder this past November. It’s about a year to 80% strength for regular people. I was in a sling for 6 weeks and unable to lift anything more than 10 lbs for another 10 weeks (under doctor’s orders anyway). It’s not a small surgery. I wish the young man luck.
Thanks for your info…I hope your recovery continues to go well
I had a similar experience. I’m trying to get back into pitching at the ripe old age of 22…it took me a solid twenty months to get back to full strength after surgery, rehab, and conditioning. Thankfully I’ve recovered fully, but I know of other people who couldn’t.
My surgeon actually banned me from pitching, serving in tennis and volleyball, basically any motion where my arm had to reach back and generate a whipping motion. you’re lucky that you’ve gotten back. Did you have a full or partial tear?
I fully tore it as a result of playing baseball and swimming competitively. I’m thankful that I’m able to pitch again…I’m hoping to attend an open MLB tryout this summer.
good luck to you sir!
edit: I’d start with the Rockies.!
They have some solid depth in AAA. I’m an A’s fan so to me, Guillermo Moscoso definitely is worthy of a Major League rotation spot! 😉
Wow, even if you don’t make it, congratulations on your recovery and I hope you blow the scouts away this summer man…!!
Thanks! I’m a lefty, so hopefully someone will take a flyer on me haha.
I am in school studying sabermetrics and Sports Administration to hopefully fulfill my dream of one day becoming an MLB GM. I’ll give you a shot if I make it, pending your shoulder stays healthy LOL
I’m really Matt Chico. Do you have one for me too?
Have one what for you?
I had the surgery as well, it seems bleak at first but at the 12-16 month mark after the surgery you really start to see a big improvement, I actually got my golf swing back which I didn’t expect..
The worst part, as you know, its the first 6 weeks. ! good luck on the rest of your recovery, slow and steady!
Is it a gradual injury or do you feel it when it happens? Just curious about whatever you can tell me about it.
the original injury was instant and i felt a pop, but ignored it..
eventually it got so bad that playing fetch with my dog ended up in a shoulder separation. It got pretty bad until I was forced in to the surgery not just to be active but just to carry on every day motions.
The reality is, much like knees, some people are just born with weak joints. and if you happen to be one of the lucky ones, regardless of talent, theres nothing you can do to overcome it.
Dang that sucks for him. As a Mariners fan, I could only wish him the best and a speedy recovery.
In the games Montero has started this year, his defense has looked solid. He’s looks better behind the dish than Olivo.
Wow Sox and Yanks are getting slammed with some bad luck here.
As a fan of baseball, this absolutely sucks. No one can be happy about someone with his potential getting this severe of an injury. Anyone who’s happy about this is pretty much classless.
I hope with how medicine is getting more and more advanced he’ll be able to recover and this doesn’t end his career.
Even before we traded for Pineda, for all the positive responses to him there was constantly an addendum to any praise that mentioned he was overweight, he had structural issues, etc. WHY did we do this!? We didn’t need Pineda and now we don’t have Pineda but we’ve also lost Montero…Ugh. I’m slightly disgusted. Though, I hope Pineda comes back from this and we get our money’s worth on the trade.
I’m more worried about Banuelos control issues right now. Wish Pineda a speedy recovery and thank god we also got Campos in that deal.
Should have traded for Gio.
Yankees are far better off with Pineda on the DL than Gio in their rotation.
I could be wrong, but both a .228 BABIP and 27.3% FB rates, compared to his career norms, are very unlikely to be sustained, and would be far more unlikely in the AL East IMO.
First off, Pineda is only 23.. Secondly its not a full Tear, its small enough that there going in arthroscopically to repair it and there is NO damage to the Rotator Cuff.
yes it is . But, he still will be out until at least May of next year. I really hope that Jack Zombie did not have suspicions that they was going to happen. I heard this morning that Fister is also having arm issues. Stay away from Marniers pitchers and Jack Zombie
It’s not arm issues for Fister, it was a rib cage strain. He’ll be back in a couple weeks.
Man the Seattle Mariners have really something over’d the Yankees front office (I’m not sure what I can put there given the censors). First the 4th Cliff Lee trade, now stealing Montero from Cashman.
There was nothing wrong with not trading Lee to them, and Cashman knew the risk of taking on a young pitcher with injury problems.
lol
Of course the Mariners didn’t have to trade Cliff Lee to them, and thankfully they didn’t because he wouldn’t be a Phillie right now, but they way they went about not doing it was poor business.
Obviously there’s risks with acquring young pitching (or any pitching for that matter) but the Yankees have lost big time both times. Personally, I was for the trade at the time.
First, Jay Buhner. Second, everything else.
Get well soon Pineda. Hate hearing about injuries like this to up and coming young players. Even if that player is a d*mn yankee 😉
Seriously though, I hope he comes back at 100%.
Does this potentially open Oswalt to the Yanks? Especially if Hughes scuffles further?
Wow jeez, that must suck. This is why young pitchers with a huge ceiling are never sure fire ace’s.
I wasn’t a fan of this move when Z made it but i can admit when i was completely wrong Jackie Z using Jedi Mind tricks.
Al Lieter was on MLB Network and he said he had the exact same injury and he came back. It took him a whole year.
He also said he was not surprised. Pitchers don’t lose 5 mph off their fastball without something wrong. He also said that he probably hurt his arm by over comprehending for the lack of velocity by “pushing it ” and he over extended other muscles in his arm. He also cited the dramatic increase of innings last year,.
His first year in the rotation he pitched 171 innings. That is too much for a rookie, despite what Nolan Ryan believes. He was a freak and not the norm.
“His first year in the rotation he pitched 171 innings. That is too much for a rookie, despite what Nolan Ryan believes. He was a freak and not the norm.”
Actually until the 1990s pitching anywhere from 150 to 180 innings was the norm for your first or second year, and you were expected to do so for 10-12 years, some played 15-16 years throwing more innings in their first 5 years than most of the so called ACES throw in their first 10 years in the major leagues nowadays.
For example:Mel Stottlemyre (senior) had 1171 ip in his first 5 seasons in the majors, a 2.87 ERA and a 1.197 WHIP.
Justin Verlander in his first 7 seasons (not counting this season) had 1315 ip, a 3.54 ERA and a 1.194 WHIP.
Oh yeah, and Mel already had 47 more complete games and 14 more shutouts than Verlander.
But, pitchers from this day and age are pampered and given massive contracts so they will always try to pitch as little as possible to keep on receiving money for being merely good, but since every pitcher does it, the bar has been lowered and now are viewed as EXCELENT pitchers while in fact they can’t even handle the pressure and are not all around athletes, just some kids who can throw really really hard.
Maybe in 15-20 years if baseball is still around in those years, we will be amazed when a pitchers reaches 100 innings a year in 8 starter rotations, and every complete game will be viewed as today’s shutouts, not to mention that more likely than not, the requirement for a start to win a game will be lowered from 5 inn to 2 innings and 60 pitches will be the new 100 pitch mark.
Sounds ludicrous?
20-25 years ago pitchers threw 150-180 pitches a game, could go 10 innings if needed, started 35-39 games and they threw 250-280 innings per season, 11 complete games were normal for any starter.
Now: 100-110 pitches, 6-7 innings tops, start 29-32 games and 150-200 innings and now 11 complete games are good to lead the league.
That could be entirely due to the nature of competition these days. Fact is, players are better now. You actually have to throw the ball hard and even then hitters may hit it out. It’s hard to last long in games and it takes more pitches to finish an inning. So everyone’s throwing harder and for longer and facing stiffer competition. Someone like Mel Stottlemyer may have been able to throw over 200 at the start, but he wasn’t facing the kind of lineups that we have today in the game. He could probably get a lot of guys out with less effort.
Any chance the Yankees have a grievance case against the Mariners for passing off damaged goods? What did they know and when did they know it?
Cashman already said the physical didn’t show anything abnormal, so if there was prior damage, they’ve got no one to blame but their doctors…
Damn, that sucks! I wish him the best in his recovery. Like many others, I was looking forward to seeing him pitch. At least we know that his less than stellar start was due to injury, and not overvaluing.
I liked the trade at the time, and I still do. That being said, I wish both Montero and Pineda the best. Why must it be mutually exclusive? Both teams can win trades, you know. Of course it hurts losing Montero since he was such a fan favorite, but let’s have faith in the front office. Hopefully Pineda comes back healthy and dominates next year.
Lastly, that Campos kid looks pretty good too.
realistically most gms dont want to fleece other gms because it will limit them in the future. You want to provide some value for your trading partner.
In hind sight, based on the injury sure the yankees would un do it, but injuries are a reality in the sport, montero is a freak injury away from one as well.
I still liked the trade from the yankees standpoint. The injury doesn’t change anything, it is what it is unfortunately
Hide sight? Montero is a freak injury away from an injury? You feeling okay lunchbox?
lol apparently not.
That’s a shame. I’m no Yankees fan, but I liked Pineda. He was a lot of fun to watch. Hopefully he recovers okay.
Well forget about what this does to the Yankees, my fantasy baseball team is done now! I had him as a keeper from last year and was hoping he can be a solid number 2 for me! I lost Victor Martinez last year and now Pineda!!
Cashman came out and said they had done not one but 2 MRI’s before the trade was finalized if they messed it up there is no one to blame but themselves.
You all read where they said the surgery was going to be arthroscopic, right? I think that puts his recovery a little more on the positive side than some of the names mentioned here.
I’ve had one shoulder splayed open for an Acromioplasty, bone spur removal, tendon repair, and rotator cuff clean up that took nine months to get back to normal. I’m having the same procedure done next week on the other, but through the arthroscope this time. Expected to be back to normal in 6 weeks. Now nothing as serious as the labrum here, but the fact he won’t be cut, is only 23 and the injury is only a couple months old and he didn’t try to pitch through it, will make a big difference.
The bad news is that I’ll never pitch or play piano again, and of course, I couldn’t before either so it’s moot point.
Another quick point, picking winners and losers on a trade can only be made the day of the trade. If both teams are happy, that’s it. A guy could fall down the stairs, or get in a car crash the next day and it doesn’t make the GM an idiot for making the deal. No one can see into the future. If Montero hadn’t been traded and maybe came to camp over-confident he may not have made the team out of spring training and sulked at AAA, you never know. Russell Martins contract made it obvious that he was never going to catch full time and they were still going to sign either Damon or Ibanez. They couldn’t put all of their DH eggs in one untested rookie basket. Obviously, Montero could have also won the DH job and hit 50 homers too, but you have to play the likely odds as well.
if there were two MRIs prior to the trade then this is something that happened in the off season
can’t blame the Mariners; but I do have to wonder (like I did when this trade was announced) why the desperation to trade Montero.
Even if he isn’t a top rated Catching prospect, his bat puts him in the Delgado class rather than the Bench class … and Tex isn’t going to play 1B everyday for the entire length of his contract.
… and even those points ignore that it wasn’t PITCHING that got them eliminated last playoffs; ironically it was their HITTING (or astounding lack thereof)
Don’t lay the blame on Cashman!
Pineda is just a bad trade and that’s all.
It is not as if he acquired:
J. Vázquez
Pavano
Brown
Weaver
Igawa
R. Johnson
Burnett
J. Vázquez (AGAIN)
Oh… wait.. UGH. Well, at least for every 200 millions spent on mediocre pitching there is always a Sidney Ponson, Bartolo Colón, Aaron Small, Cory Liddle.
By the way… I don’t know why some of my fellow Yankee fans say that Jesús Montero is not doing alright, seeing how when compared with NYY catcher Rusell Martin, Jesús is batting 100 points higher, with 1 more homerun, and 7 more RBIs.
Isn’t this something that would have shown up in a physical?