Michael Pineda charged with DUI

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Tampa police charged injured New York Yankees pitcher Michael Pineda with driving under the influence early Monday morning.

Pineda's blood alcohol rate was calculated as high as .128, which is above Florida's .08 legal limit.

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This continues the downward spiral for Pineda, who was the Yankees biggest offseason acquisition last winter. He has missed the entire season because of shoulder surgery.

On Monday, Pineda was stopped at 2:35 a.m. and, according to the police report, "no headlights were illuminated at night." The report also stated that the officer could smell "a distinct odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath and his speech was slurred."

Pineda, 23, was the main acquisition in a four-player trade with the Seattle Mariners that sent prized prospect Jesus Montero west in January.

Pineda entered spring training overweight and with the Yankees trying to lower expectations that he could fall behind ace CC Sabathia as the team's No. 2 starter. During the exhibition season, Pineda could never find the 94-98 mph velocity that in part made him so enticing to the Yankees. Instead, he struggled all spring before eventually the Yankees were forced to shut him down and then announce he needed season-ending shoulder surgery.

In his rookie season with the Mariners in 2011, Pineda made the All-Star team and finished the season at 9-10 with a 3.74 ERA.

Both Yankees general manager Brian Cashman and manager Joe Girardi said they had no comment.

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Andrew Marchand

ESPNNewYork.com

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Andrew Marchand is a senior writer for ESPNNewYork. He also regularly contributes to SportsCenter, Baseball Tonight, ESPNews, ESPN New York 98.7 FM and ESPN Radio. He joined ESPN in 2007 after nine years at the New York Post. Follow Andrew on Twitter »