Mariners

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, who has held that job for 14 years, said Monday that Jesus Montero "may very well be the best player I've ever traded ... He's that good."

With the Yankees-Mariners blockbuster finally becoming official, 10 days after the players were agreed upon, both sides acknowledged they gave up potential impact players. The M's had to relinquish All-Star right-hander Michael Pineda, along with touted pitching prospect Jose Campos, to get Montero and pitcher Hector Noesi.

But one of the fascinating aspects of this transaction — called "one of those old-fashioned baseball trades, where really nothing was exchanged but talent" by Seattle GM Jack Zduriencik — will be monitoring the progress of the two phenoms at the heart of it.

"Obviously, we both took risks, but we both feel we did what was best for our franchises," Cashman said on a conference call. "Both organizations got their interests served here. But at the same time, it hurt to serve those interests."

"I hope that down the road, we can look at each other and say, 'It was a win-win for both sides,' " Zduriencik added.

In Pineda, the Mariners not only gave up a potential ace, but "a wonderful person," Zduriencik said. "We'll always root for Michael. Any of us who care about people, you have an attachment to these young guys. Now our emotional attachment is to Jesus. He's part of the family now."

More to the point, Montero was acquired to be part of a Mariners lineup crying out for a power hitter. Cashman, who has likened Montero to Miguel Cabrera, believes the Mariners landed themselves a quality one.

"He's going to be a middle-of-the-order player," he said. "He's going to have a heck of a career. He really is."

Montero said that when the Yankees played a series at Safeco Field in September, during his monthlong stint in the majors, he had a funny feeling "I might play here for a long time."

He knew the Mariners had nearly traded for him in July 2010, in exchange for Cliff Lee, before the deal fell apart. Yet the news still hit him hard.

"When the Yankees called and told me, I was in shock," said Montero. "My whole family was in shock. I never thought that was going to happen. But it happened, for real, man."

Montero turned 22 on Nov. 28, which in an eerie coincidence was also the 22nd birthday of last year's top draft pick, Danny Hultzen. The M's hope those two eventually form a productive battery, though some wonder whether Montero will have to change positions because of defensive issues.

Asked about Montero's catching tools, Zduriencik said, "I think all that will adjust itself as we go into spring training ... We'll give him every opportunity to be all he can be, whatever that might be. He has a chance to be a very good offensive player. He's a smart kid. He'll get every opportunity to catch as well. Things will work themselves out. What we like is the player we acquired."

Cashman said the trade should not be read as a sign that the Yankees don't think Montero can't catch in the major leagues.

"It's not an acknowledgment of what we believe Montero's catching abilities are," he said. "We do believe he can be an every-day catcher in the big leagues. It was really more about trading from an area of strength to shore up an area of need. We gave up a lot in Montero. We hope we got a lot back as well in Pineda."

Montero said he's still focused on catching in the big leagues.

"That's why I'm here," he said. "I'm looking for an opportunity. I'm going to keep working hard behind the plate. I'm going to do my best, help the team, help the pitchers. I'm going to do everything I can to help Seattle win."

Montero knows fellow Venezuelan Felix Hernandez, who grew up nearby, but they haven't talked much in the last couple of years.

"Everyone knows about him in Venezuela," he said. "He's a superstar in Venezuela. I haven't really had a chance to talk to him (lately). Now we have many years."

The Mariners, Montero said, have a high profile in Venezuela because of Hernandez, Franklin Gutierrez and former Seattle All-Star Jose Lopez.

"People know a lot about Seattle," he said. "Now it's going to be better because we're going to win."

Both GMs praised the secondary pieces in the trade as well. Noesi will compete for a rotation spot, Zduriencik said.

"I'm excited to see what's going to happen," he said. "Obviously, we have Felix at the top. There will be a lot of competition for the other spots."

Zduriencik declined to answer a question about whether he was still in contact with agent Scott Boras about Prince Fielder.

Larry Stone: 206-464-3146 or lstone@seattletimes.com