As the baseball community mourns Jesus Montero’s tragic passing in a motorcycle accident, it brings to light Yankees general manager Brian Cashman’s deep appreciation for his former top prospect.
Cashman referred to Montero as “the best player I’ve ever traded” when he finalized the deal that sent him to Seattle, part of the trade to obtain Michael Pineda.
Throughout his career, Cashman has made several significant trades, but he regarded Montero as one of the most impactful at that moment.
“He might be the best player I ever traded,” Cashman mentioned to the media in January 2012. “He’s an excellent player—definitely a middle-of-the-order hitter.”
After the trade, Montero expressed his “shock” about leaving the Yankees.
“I thought it would never happen, but it did,” he shared. “I’m really happy to be here. This is a new opportunity, and I have to take advantage of it.”
Tragically, Montero passed away on Sunday after sustaining injuries in an accident in Venezuela earlier this month, eventually falling into a coma.
His major league journey turned out to be one of those what-ifs that never came to fruition.
In 2011, during his limited time with the Yankees, he was called up in September and played in 18 games. He managed to hit four home runs, posting a batting average of .328 and even played a game in the American League Division Series against the Tigers, going 2-for-2.
After being traded in January 2012, he didn’t develop into the player Seattle had envisioned the following season.
Montero faced various injury challenges and received a 50-game suspension in 2015 linked to the Biogenesis scandal, along with ongoing weight issues.
