Paul O’Neill had accomplishments in his eight seasons in Cincinnati. He made an All-Star team, received MVP votes and hit in the middle of the lineup for the 1990 champion Reds.
Yet, he had declining production in his age-29 season before being traded to the Yankees. The transaction was largely met with surprise or disapproval, in part because there was strong sentiment the player he was traded for (Roberto Kelly) was better and because concern lingered whether he would ever hit lefties.
But a shrewd general manager named Gene Michael believed O’Neill’s lefty bat, patience and intensity were elements that would help the 1993 Yankees.