It all started with Jason Giambi.
During the offseason of 2002—one that represented uncomfortable feelings for the previously four-out-of-five World Series champions—the prized slugger was sought out. The New York Yankees inked the 2000 AL MVP to a massive seven-year, $120 million contract.
Though a comfortable feeling now—that the New York Yankees go after the big fish in the hot-stove sea—this wasn’t at all normal at the time. Remember, the late 1990s dynasty was built on youth, not money. The duo of Buck Showalter and Gene “Stick” Michael transformed an entire organizational culture. In having the ability to do such a thing with George Steinbrenner on the shelf (as per MLB suspension rules), the likes of Bernie Williams, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and so many more didn’t meet the fate of a Jay Buhner.