This week, the Seattle Mariners are expected to officially welcome young "catcher" Jesus Montero and bid adieu to young power pitcher Michael Pineda.

Last week, ESPN baseball analyst Keith Law might have made Mariners fans feel a bit more comfortable about the trade with the "Evil Empire" that is the New York Yankees.

Law focuses much of his attention on prospects, both in the minor leagues and college, and last week he broke down the trade during the Baseball Today podcast with Eric Karabell.

"One thing I'll say for Montero — it's legit, all-fields power," Law said. "If Montero can't hit for power in Seattle, then I don't know anybody who is really going to hit for power in Seattle. This is not just dead-pull right-handed power, although he can hit it 500 feet in that direction, but he can take it out to right field. He's just insanely strong — upper-body strength, lower body, wrists, forearms."

In terms of a power-hitting prospect, Law ranks Montero, age 22, as No. 2 in the game — behind only the Washington Nationals future outfielder.

"He's not quite Bryce Harper, but I don't know there's that any major prospect with some probability to hit, who's got more all-field power than does Montero," Law said. "He is gong to hit some bombs to right field that are going to die on the warning track because that's just how Safeco rolls."

Tacoma News Tribune columnist John McGrath suggests Montero, at 6-foot-3, 235 pounds, never should catch a game for the Mariners, and Law would seem to agree.

Montero hit .328 with four homers, 12 RBI in 61 at-bats during 18 games for the Yankees. Only three of those games were spent behind the plate.

"I don't think he's got the body for it. I don't think he's got the skills for it," Law said. "And I think a bat that special, you really don't want to have him forced to sit out 25 to 30 games a year to rest his body because of the toll of catching — all the up and down and the weight on the knees."

So perhaps this deal shouldn't pose a major threat to John Jaso, the 28-year-old left-handed swinging catcher who hit .228 in 89 games last season for the Tampa Bay Rays.

While Law said, "I like the trade a little better in the sense of Seattle just because there's a bit more probability with Montero," fantasy players shouldn't be as optimistic about the batter or the pitcher in their new settings.

"Montero goes to a ballpark that crushes right-handed power in Seattle, and Pineda goes from a great defense, great home environment and some pretty good road parks in Oakland and Anaheim — both good pitchers parks," Law said.

However, Law said he believes Pineda will develop into a "solid No. 2 or better" starting pitcher for the Yankees.

Bottom line, Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik needed to make this deal. The Mariners are losing not only in the stands, but also at the turnstile. And as a baseball town, Seattle is becoming as irrelevant as the Oakland A's, while the Anaheim Angels and the Texas Rangers continue spend on top talent and build upon their successes.

At the same time, the Mariners, who gave Zduriencik a new two-year deal last September, continue to gamble that his background as a minor-league talent evaluator will win out.

That means Montero and Justin Smoak — the centerpiece to the Cliff Lee to Texas trade — must drive in runs during 2012. And pitching prospects Danny Hultzen and James Paxton need to show they are ready for the majors.

If not, that 2009 season with those "In Z We Trust" signs at Safeco Field will be viewed with derision, the last seasons of Ichiro Suzuki truly will have been wasted, and "King" Felix Hernandez will be closer to free agency.