In June 2000, the Yankees were sputtering. Sure, they still had high-level bats like Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, and Bernie Williams, but some of the other pieces, who had been big parts of the three previous titles, were starting to show their age. The likes of Tino Martinez, Scott Brosius, Chuck Knoblauch, and Paul O’Neill — all over 30 — ended up putting up below-average seasons. Shane Spencer hadn’t managed to duplicate his 1998 heroics, and Ricky Ledee hadn’t quite developed into a reliable middle of the lineup bat.
The Yankees needed some sort of bat to help their lineup, or their dynastic run might be over.