The New York Yankees have added two starting pitchers -- Hiroki Kuroda and Michael Pineda -- and center fielder Curtis Granderson couldn't be happier.
"It seems like (the rotation) was the big question as the season ended," said Granderson, in Boston Monday night to attend a Hot Stove, Cool Music event at Fenway Park. "The front office with the Yankees addressed those issues. Now we're in a situation where we might have too many, which is always a good thing to have. There's definitely going to be some great competition. Guys are going to be excited coming in. I'm looking forward to it. I'll be excited to see them in spring training."
Granderson said Pineda, obtained from Seattle in exchange for Jesus Montero, "is a big presence. This will only be his second (full) season and he's got a lot to build off -- his strength, his size. His numbers speak for themselves. He's definitely a power pitcher. That was the report on him. He came out and came right at you.
"He was confident. He wasn't intimidated by the Yankee lineup. That's gonna fare well for him coming to the American League East."
Granderson also spoke about how competitive the American League has become, with as many as six teams in the running for the pennant.
"It definitely seems like that now," he said. "If everybody stays healthy, it's going to be a very interesting battle. There's definitely not going to be many days that you can take off.
"No matter what, whenever we step onto the field, everyone is always looking to go after us and now, teams are going to be in the same situation, where we're going to be going after them as well."