Jesus Montero left Friday's game after taking a foul tip off his head in the game against the A's.

At least, that's what we're guessing based on the radio feed of the game. He was down on the ground for about two minutes, but he was able to walk off under his own power. John Jaso replaced him. Montero homered off Grant Balfour before departing.

Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com reports that the Mariners have Miguel Olivo slotted in as their No. 1 catcher but will give Jesus Montero the opportunity to catch some games.

Most scouts think Montero won't be able to stick behind the plate in the long run, but the M's aren't giving up on the possibility. For fantasy purposes, he'll likely be eligible only at DH in many leagues at the start of the season but shouldn't have trouble gaining eligibility at catcher before long. He'll receive most of his starts in the DH slot, though, with some time at first base possibly mixed in. His home park won't do him any favors, but Montero is potentially an elite bat.

Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said Monday that Jesus Montero will be "given every opportunity to catch."

Many scouts are skeptical about Montero's ability behind the plate, but it's probably worth seeing whether he can become a viable option in the long-term, especially for a team like the Mariners who aren't expected to contend in the AL West. The catcher-eligibility would be pretty helpful for fantasy owners.

Mariners acquired DH/C Jesus Montero and RHP Hector Noesi from the Yankees for RHPs Michael Pineda and Jose Campos.

The deal was finally made official after Montero passed a physical in Seattle over the weekend. While it's surprising to see the Mariners give up a promising young pitcher with years of team control left, they at least flipped him for someone that has a chance to be a legitimate impact bat in the long term. The 22-year-old had an .867 OPS over five seasons in the minors and batted .328 with four homers and a .996 OPS over 69 plate appearances as a September call-up with the Yanks last season. Montero's value will be somewhat depressed by virtue of hitting in the Mariners' lineup and playing half his games at the pitcher-friendly Safeco Field, but it will be interesting to see whether he is used strictly as a designated hitter or gets some work behind the plate. While many scouts believe he doesn't have the proper defensive skills, fantasy owners should be rooting for catcher-eligibility.

Jesus Montero took his physical for the Mariners on Saturday afternoon in Seattle.

The trade sending Montero and right-hander Hector Noesi to the M's for right-handers Michael Pineda and Jose Campos is expected to become official on Monday. It was being held up by a visa issue that Montero recently cleared up in his native Venezuela.

According to Ken Davidoff of New York Newsday, Jesus Montero has dealt with his visa issue and is scheduled to travel from Florida to Seattle on Friday for his physical with the Mariners.

The Yankees and Mariners agreed to a trade last Friday to send Montero and right-hander Hector Noesi to Seattle for right-handers Michael Pineda and Jose Campos. However, the deal has yet to be finalized because Montero was dealing with a visa problem in his native Venezuela. Assuming no issues with the physical, it's possible the deal could finally be announced Saturday.

Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com reports that the trade that would send Jesus Montero to the Mariners and Michael Pineda to the Yankees is being held up because Montero has been waiting for a passport or visa issue to be resolved.

Not only is Montero waiting on a visa, but due to an ice storm in Seattle that has prompted Washington Governor Christine Gregoire to declare a state of emergency, he may have trouble getting there to undergo his physical, anyway. It appears that the trade, which also involves right-hander Hector Noesi going to the Mariners and right-hander prospect Jose Campos going to the Yankees, won't officially be consummated for at least another couple days.

According to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, the Mariners have acquired Jesus Montero from the Yankees for right-hander Michael Pineda.

Greg Johns of MLB.com was told by a team source that the Mariners will acquire Montero and right-hander Hector Noesi from the Yankees for Pineda and prospect right-hander Jose Campos. It's a stunning deal in many respects, but the Mariners needed an impact bat in the worst way. It will be interesting to see whether he is used at designated hitter or whether the club tries to stick him behind the plate. Pineda turns 23 next week and posted a 3.74 ERA and 173/55 K/BB ratio over 171 innings as a rookie last season. While he'll likely miss Safeco Field, he should fit quite nicely behind C.C. Sabathia in the Yanks' rotation for the next few years. It will be interesting to see where the Bombers turn with their DH spot considering that Montero was projected to start the season there.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi referred to Jesus Montero as a "work in progress" Friday in an interview with the New York Daily News.

"We see him as a guy who can do different things for us," Girardi said. "You think about how old he is - there's going to be some growing pains as we go through with him. But I think the kid is extremely hungry. I think he's talented and I think he can help us." The Yankees are not completely sold on Montero as their future catcher and need to see more of his work before officially committing to him as a regular. The 21-year-old hit .288/.348/.467 in 499 plate appearances at Triple-A Scranton, and projects as the primary DH against left-handers.

Jesus Montero will not play winter ball.

Montero played in 127 total games this year between the minors and majors, and caught nine innings in most of them. While the Yankees would like him to get more work before officially committing to him as a regular for 2012, there's no point in putting his body through the ringer.

Jesus Montero left Wednesday's game against the Rays in the eighth inning after taking a foul ball off his ring finger and pinkie while catching.

X-rays came back negative, so he is expected to be fine for the ALDS against the Tigers. "When it hit me, I felt a lot of pain, but I looked at my fingers and saw that I was okay," said Montero. "Thank God nothing happened." The 21-year-old is expected to serve as the primary DH against left-handers and backup catcher during the playoffs.

Jesus Montero will start behind the plate in Wednesday's regular season finale against the Rays.

This is his third major league start at catcher. While Russell Martin will likely catch every inning during the postseason, Yankees manager Joe Girardi is trying to keep Montero sharp in case he is needed in an emergency.

Jesus Montero had two hits and two walks Sunday in the 14-inning game against the Red Sox.

One of the walks was intentional; the Red Sox already had enough respect for Montero that they walked him with a runner on third and two outs in the ninth, even though they knew the Yankees had plenty of quality pinch-hitting options on the bench. Montero has collected eight hits in his last three starts, raising his average to .364.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said he "can't envision a scenario" where Jesus Montero isn't on the postseason roster.

That's certainly no surprise, as Montero has stepped up with a .346/.414/.635 batting line with four homers and 12 RBI in 15 games this month. He's been the primary designated hitter against left-handed pitching and could serve as the second catcher behind Russell Martin if Francisco Cervelli (concussion) isn't ready to play. That job will probably fall on Austin Romine, though.

Jesus Montero went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and a career-high four RBI in a 9-1 win over the Red Sox on Saturday.

Montero had an RBI single in the bottom of the second inning, a two-run double in the third and an impressive opposite-field solo blast in the sixth. The 21-year-old is now batting .346 with four homers, three doubles, 12 RBI and a 16/5 K/BB ratio over his first 52 at-bats in the big leagues. He should make the postseason roster as the primary designated hitter against left-handed pitching.

Jesus Montero reached base all five times on Thursday, finishing 3-for-3 with a pair of walks in the Yankees' 15-8 setback.

Montero added two RBI on the night. The young catcher is striking out at a rapid clip (15 times in 48 at-bats), but otherwise has been a significant positional upgrade at the plate. He's hit safely in 10 of his 14 major league games, compiling an impressive .313/.389/.542 batting line.

Jesus Montero homered off Jered Weaver for the Yankees' lone run Friday night.

That's three homers and six RBI in six games for Montero. He seems likely to earn more time against righties with his early strong showing.

Jesus Montero is in the starting lineup Wednesday afternoon against the Orioles.

Jorge Posada served as the designated hitter on Tuesday, but Montero is back in there Wednesday against the left-hander Zach Britton. We expect this to remain a pretty strict platoon moving forward, which limits the impressive rookie's fantasy value.

Jesus Montero is not in the Yankees' starting lineup Tuesday night against the Orioles.

Montero started the previous three games as the designated hitter, but will sit now that the Yankees are facing the right-hander Tommy Hunter. Jorge Posada will serve as the DH Tuesday and bat eighth.

Jesus Montero went 0-for-4 with a run scored in his major league debut Thursday.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi gave Montero the start in the DH slot and batted him seventh, but the rookie responded by leaving six runners on base - twice as many as anyone else in the lineup. The reality is that it's just one game, and he was facing a tough opponent in the Red Sox' Jon Lester. Montero figures to see regular playing time against southpaws down the stretch and should certainly be owned in AL-only formats.