I hate to speak for everyone (but I will) when I say we all believed GM Brian Cashman and the rest of the Yanks brass when they said there would be no major changes to the club for 2012.

Well, there were.

The mega-prospect swap of Jesus Montero for Michael Pineda is a dice roll of sorts, if only for the fact Montero appears destined for stardom and pitchers inherently carry a certain risk factor with them. But let’s be clear: if you have a chance to trade a high-ceiling hitter for a potential top 3 pitcher in the game (Pineda certainly has that type of ceiling), you should probably do it. And, with the free agent signing of ex-Dodger Hiroki Kiroda, it says here the Yanks could be the best team in baseball.

Here’s a look at their projected 2012 starting rotation:

1. CC Sabathia - Say what you will about the big lefty’s conditioning because I’ve already said it too. The fact remains CC is a top 10 pitcher in the majors and has the talent to carry a team through the playoffs. An 18-win & 215+ inning season? Book it.

2. Hiroki Kuroda - I’ve been criticized in the past for my undying support for one of baseball’s most underrated arms and I’m tired of defending him. So, I encourage you to look at his stats page — and not just wins, check out his ERA, WHIP, K/9). If I’m Joe Girardi, Kuroda is getting penciled in as the No. 2 and reason being is not indicative of talent or merit. He’s a veteran who may or may not struggle in the Bronx, but the motivation here is to protect Michael Pineda from as much “Should have never traded Montero for this guy” talk as possible as he settles into his new home.

3. Michael Pineda: Everyone’s trendy fantasy sleeper this year, Pineda gives the Yanks their best young talented arm in eons. With all due respect to Sabathia, Pineda represents the first time in decades the Yankees have someone they can call the “next best pitcher in the game.” Seriously, the guy is a stud. And whether or not the 22-year-old encounters an adjustment period coming from spacious Safeco to the short porch in the Bronx, this is the guy the Yanks needed for now and the next 10 years. Love Jesus Montero but this is a great trade. Pineda, without a doubt, could be the Yanks No. 2 come October.

4. Ivan Nova: I think the talent is real, but so is the sophomore slump. Scouting reports will make it tough for Nova to duplicate last year’s dominating stretch that saw the 25-year-old win eight straight games. Yanks will take 12-14 wins with a slightly higher ERA from Supernova and like it.

5. Does it matter? The Yanks offense is still good enough to hang 7 runs on a team and get whichever scrub in this spot a win. Freddy Garcia will be a popular pick, but I’d like to see Joba Chamberlain be given a close look in Spring Training, and certainly curious to see if Phil Hughes has regained the velocity on his fastball. I’ve always liked Garcia but … well, that’s just it. But. A.J. Burnett? There will be those who say he has the POTENTIAL to be the best No. 5 in the game. And there are also those of us who know better by now. Intriguing, if not terribly annoying, a wild card as they come.