The New York Yankees had an absolutely loaded pitching staff in the late 90's and early 2000's but it was the off the radar type deals that really put New York over the edge and into the World Series in 2000 against the New York Mets. Deals like the Yankees made on this day in 2000 where Denny Neagle (8-2, 3.52 ERA) and outfielder Mike Frank were to sent to the Yankees and Drew Henson, Jackson Melian, Brian Reith, and Ed Yarnall (basically nobody) was sent to Cincinnati in return.
Also on this day in 1989 Major League Baseball lost another great arm as Louisiana Lightning Ron Guidry called it a career. Guidry finishes with a 170-91 record and a 3.29 ERA during his 14 year career, all with the Yankees. Guidry won the 1978 American League Cy Young Award unanimously after posting a 25-3 record with a 1.74 ERA. Incredible.
I thought it was funny when Ron Guidry had to "settle" for a $900K contract because George Steinbrenner refused to pay a million dollars to a pitcher. Ed Yarnall is a reminder of one very bad trade when we foolishly sent Mike Lowell to the Marlins. I can still remember when Jackson Melian was a highly touted young prospect and of course Drew Henson was supposed to be the next great third baseman for the Yankees. I was never a fan of Neagle.
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