MLB Trade Rumors: Zack Greinke To the Yankees? 10 Stars Who Failed in New York
Last week, Royals pitcher Zack Greinke let it be known that he would be open to a trade to the New York Yankees (or another contender).
Greinke has had issues with social anxiety disorder in the past and New York would not be the best place to go if you are a little shy. The Yankees have a history of acquiring talented players who faltered under the bright lights and big stage of New York.
Here are 10 of the biggest blunderers to play for the New York Yankees.
Randy Johnson
1 of 10
He famously introduced himself to New York by shoving a reporter and yelling at him "DON'T TALK BACK TO ME!"
He was brought on board to keep the Red Sox from winning another championship and get the Yankees back to the World Series. At the age of 41, he was good for them in 2005, but he wasn't the guy that everyone figured he would be.
He was traded back to Arizona in January 2007.
Carl Pavano
2 of 10
The poster-child for bad New York free agent signings, Carl Pavano.
He was always a solid pitcher with the Marlins, throwing 200 innings in both 2003 and 2004. He pitched well in the 2003 World Series against the Yankees.
In the winter of 2004, the Yankees threw four years and nearly $40 million Pavano's way. For their troubles, he gave them 145 innings in four years.
He was hardly ever healthy, and when he was, he was ineffective. On the plus side, for Pavano, he got all that money and got to date Alyssa Milano for a while.
Jason Giambi
3 of 10
The Yankees team of the late 90s and early 2000s was breaking up after the 2001 season.
Scott Brosius and Paul O'Neill retired, Tino Martinez was a free agent and the Yankees wanted an upgrade.
They signed Jason Giambi to a seven year $120 million contract.
He was not a New York kind of guy. His personality was more West Coast.
When BALCO/steroids controversy ate him up, the Yankees tried to void the contract but were unable to do so.
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Javier Vazquez
4 of 10
The Yankees acquired Javier Vazquez twice, and both times, it has been a disaster.
The first time was in 2004, and Vazquez posted an ERA near 5 and imploded in the postseason against Boston.
In 2009 his ERA was 5.35, and his velocity took a serious dip. Needless to say, Vazquez and New York just don't mix.
Jose Contreras
5 of 10
He was supposed to be the next great Cuban pitcher.
Before ever throwing a major league pitch, Contreras came to the Yankees in 2003 and signed a four year contract worth over $30 million.
His stuff was good, but his talent never came through. He was traded midway through the 2004 season.
He would be one of the key members of the White Sox 2005 World Series championship team.
Kevin Brown
6 of 10
Kevin Brown was a ticking time bomb and when he got to New York that bomb exploded.
He broke his hand punching a wall, after having a meeting with then Yankee manager Joe Torre.
He was vilified for his performance and his disastrous start in game 7 of the 2004 ALCS that still makes Yankee fans cringe.
Hideki Irabu
7 of 10
Irabu joined the Yankees in 1997 after coming over from Japan, where he was one of the best pitchers.
He wanted to go to New York, and New York wanted him. They made a deal with the Padres, who had obtained his rights, but Irabu didn't want to go there. He was given a four year deal to pitch for the Yankees.
His weight was called into question, and George Steinbrenner went off on him numerous times for a multitude of things.
Sidney Ponson
8 of 10
Another pitcher who couldn't figure anything out.
He had a good year in Baltimore in 2003, then everything fell off a cliff for Ponson.
He was brought to New York in July 2006 and posted an ERA over 10 in 16 innings. His problems were not necessarily New York but that spotlight didn't help matters. At least this was their cheapest mistake.
Jaret Wright
9 of 10
He was a Leo Mazzone resurrection project in 2004 with the Braves, going 15-8 with 3.28 ERA in 186 innings.
The Yankees thought that he figured everything out and gave him $21 million to pitch for them. He gave them 63 innings and an ERA over 6 in 2005 and was shipped to Baltimore.
Chuck Knoblauch
10 of 10
Chuck Knoblauch was a solid performer for the Yankees in 1998.
In the postseason that year, he made a blunder by not going after an errant throw to first base and argued with the umpire.
After that, things seemed to fall apart for Knoblauch. He developed a case of the yips (a term given to a player who can't make a common play). Knoblauch couldn't throw the ball from second to first anymore. He lost his ability to field in New York.
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.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
