About the Off-Season: Mix and Match

Tim Kabel
14 hours ago
3 min read

About the Off-Season: Mix and Match

By Tim Kabel

October 30, 2025

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I just finished writing a series of articles evaluating the 2025 team and constructing what I think will be the best roster for 2026. I finished with the bullpen yesterday.

All this roster building got me to thinking. What if I could build a team out of all the Yankees’ players I have seen in my lifetime? Who would I pick?

Who would you pick if you were to do this?

I will now construct a team comprised of only players who played for the Yankees and whom I saw play. In other words, Babe Ruth will not be on my team. If my friend Roger participated in this exercise, Cy Young would be on his team. Not a Cy Young Award winner but Cy Young himself. I am not necessarily selecting the best players I ever saw, simply the ones I would like on my team. Let's go.

Catcher- Thurman Munson. You could make a case for Jorge Posada, but I believe Munson is underrated and if he had not tragically died in 1979, he might have finished building what would have been a Hall of Fame career. In addition to his clutch hitting, he was an outstanding catcher. Here is a little tidbit. He is the only catcher in Major League history to achieve a .300 plus batting average, 20 RBI, and 20 runners caught stealing in the postseason.

First Base- Don Mattingly. Until Mattingly’s career was derailed by back injuries, he was on a trajectory to make the Hall of Fame. He was an outstanding fielder, and a clutch hitter. He is the best first baseman I ever saw in a Yankees’ uniform.

Second Base- You can keep Robinson Cano, don’t you know. There was too much baggage there for me, including the bouts of moodiness and lackluster effort. Willie Randolph is another underrated player. He was an excellent fielder and a solid hitter. He had over 2,200 career hits. Like Munson and Mattingly, Willie Randolph was a captain while he played for the Yankees.

Shortstop- Is there any question? No, it is not Fred “Chicken” Stanley. It is Derek Jeter. Before people start squawking about his defense, I will live with the defense in exchange for the 3,400 career hits and five World Series rings. Oh yes, Jeter was a captain too. I'm noticing a trend here.

Third Base-Graig Nettles. He was the best defensive third baseman I ever saw in a Yankees’ uniform and an underrated hitter. He was another captain and a clutch player.

Left Field-Although his career with the Yankees was not long, he certainly made an impression. Rickey Henderson would be my choice in leftfield.

Centerfield- I thought about going with Mickey Rivers for a minute. He would be my second choice. However, Bernie Williams was an exceptional player and is often underrated and overlooked when people look at the great Yankees’ teams of the 90’s and 2000’s.

Right Field-Again, this is an easy decision. Aaron Judge is the best player I have seen on the Yankees going back 50 years. Surprise, he is also another captain.

Designated Hitter- I'm going with someone who played in the outfield most of the time but with Judge in rightfield, he would have to be the designated hitter. Dave Winfield Was a Hall of Fame player and a great Yankee, despite being called “Mr. May” by George Steinbrenner.

Starting Rotation- Ron Guidry (another captain), Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, CC Sabathia, and Gerrit Cole.

Bullpen- Mariano Rivera, Sparky Lyle, Goose Gossage, Dave Righetti, Dellin Betances, Jeff Nelson, and Ramiro Mendoza.

Bench- Jorge Posada, Mark Teixeira, Wade Boggs, Tony Fernandez, Mickey Rivers.

Manager- Billy Martin in his prime. Otherwise, Joe Torre.

Lineup-

Henderson- LF

Jeter- SS

Judge- RF

Mattingly- 1B

Winfield- DH

Williams- CF

Munson- C