Here’s the second in a four-part series on the Yanks’ best and worst off-season moves (trades/free agents). For part one, the 70’s, click here
The 1980’s were considerably less successful for the Yankees in player evaluation, particularly among the pitchers.
The 1980’s
Best moves:
1. Dave Winfield – splashy move with a 10-year contract, and Winnie had some of his best years in Pinstripes despite being unable to deliver a World Series title.
2. Rickey Henderson – maybe the best all-around player of the last 20 years of the 20th century, Rickey wore out his welcome in his fifth year with the Yanks but he was in his prime, scoring 146 runs one year, 130 in another and topping 80 steals three times.
3. Don Baylor – I think it says a lot that Baylor, solid but not spectacular with the Yanks, was the third best acquisition of the decade
4. Phil Niekro – Knucksie won 16 games in each of his two years with the Yanks at age 45 and 46
5. Steve Sax? John Candelaria? Bob Watson? Slim pickings…
Worst moves:
1. Ed Whitson – poster boy for the bright lights of N.Y. taking a good player down. Career ERA in 2000+innings not with the Yankees: 3.64; in around 200 Yankee frames: 5.38.
2. Dave LaPoint - coming off two pretty good years (though having played on seven teams in the past five seasons), his two-speed repertoire (slow and stop) was a big bust in the Bronx.
3. Jack Clark – this should have worked out better. Clark was coming off a monster season in St. Louis, and they even moved the Death Valley LF fence in for him, but an injury running out a home run was the beginning of the end, and although he wasn’t awful in his one year in N.Y., it wasn’t a good fit
4. Steve Kemp – he’d run through a wall for the team but didn’t hit enough to justify the big expectations and contract
5. Dave Collins – was supposed to be the catalyst for the new “Go-Go” Yanks in 1982 but couldn’t steal first and was out of position playing first base
Dishonorable mention: Shane Rawley, Rich Dotson, Andy Hawkins, Britt Burns, Mel Hall, Lance McCullers, do I have to go on????