New York Times December 27th, 1995 by Murray Chass
Jim Bowden, the Reds’ general manager, declined to discuss the Yankees’ involvement, but an official familiar with the (David) Wells talks said Steinbrenner called Bowden Saturday night and offered pitcher Mariano Rivera and catcher Jorge Posada.
Bowden, looking to cut his payroll, obviously decided he preferred Goodwin, a 23-year-old left-handed hitter, who in 87 games with the Orioles last season batted .263 and had 22 stolen bases in 26 attempts.
Anyone who has followed Baseball for a while has heard stories like this. Joel Sherman had a tidbit in his book “Birth of a Dynasty” that had the Yanks dealing Mariano Rivera for a washed-up Felix Fermin at a time when Derek Jeter was almost ready to contribute on the big league level. But at least in that case, it was the Yanks who turned it down. This proposed deal was shot down by Reds GM Jim Bowden, which makes it a much closer call.
Another good ‘Thank God we didn’t make that trade’ was the Randy Johnson deal with the Diamondbacks. You may recall, those talks were on again-off again as The Big Unit wanted to go to the Yanks (for a big contract extension) and the D-Backs didn’t really like any of the Yankee farmhands. So Brian Cashman offered them a list of players to choose from, one that included Robinson Cano and Chien Ming Wang.
1050 ESPN Radio personality Jody MacDonald often recounts a story from when his Dad (Joe MacDonald) who was the NY Mets GM from 1974-1978. In 1976, where the Yanks were looking for a veteran bat off the bench. They called the Mets inquiring about (then player) Joe Torre, and offered a young lefthander who was struggling a bit in the majors at the time named Ron Guidry. MacDonald liked the idea, but the Yanks backed out at the last minute.
Any others?
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7 Responses to What Might (not) Have Been
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TIQ IQ
Great stuff. Just one correction- the were going to trade Mo for Felix Fermin, not Feliiz. Feliz is old now, but wasn’t washed up in the mid-90′s.
You’re right, pedro is still playing. If you don’t mind, please edit that for me, I’m at work and can’t do it on my phone.
Brings to mind the old Branch Rickey saying: “Sometimes the best trades are the ones you don’t make.” It should alos remind us that Steinbrenner’s impulsiveness and demands to win now at all costs often came with a steep price and cost the team terribly in the 1980s in particular.
Who knows if Mariano becomes Mariano if he goes elsewhere and possibly remains a starting pitcher.Who knwos if he really develops the cutter like he did elsewhere.
Maybe he’s throwing a split finger instead which was hot in those days to go along with the high, up thr ladder 95 MPH heater he featured and maybe he hurts an elbow.
Eveything fell into place for Mariano here and he’s a HOF’er.
Ya nevah know!
That’s a good point. In Torre’s book, they detailed how they actually tried over and over to get rid of the natural action on his fastball, thinking it would give him better control. When they had no success, they just decided to let him go with the cutter. Another coaching staff might have handled things differently.
IIRC, Andy Pettitte was close to being dealt to the Phillies about ten years ago because he was struggling and Joe Torre intervened.
Another good one. There were a whole bunch of names discussed, none of whom you’d rather have than Andy.
And while Andy did leave that off season, the 1st round compensation pick was used to select Phil Hughes.
http://riveraveblues.com/2008/01/when-the-yankees-almost-traded-andy-pettitte-1983/