The Tuesday Discussion: One Great Player
- SSTN Admin
- Aug 26
- 3 min read
August 26, 2025
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This week we asked the following to our writers:
If you could bring back one (only one) Yankees person from the 1998-2000 "dynasty" teams to help this team have a strong stretch drive and playoff run, who would it be?
Here are their replies:
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Ed Botti - My easy answer is Mariano. But, in order to hand the ball to Mariano, you need 8 innings of winning baseball beforehand. Derek Jeter would be the person to lead this team with the never give up, Never give in attitude this team does not have. None of the consistent losing, mistakes, and me, me, me players on this team would have a chance if Jeter, the Captain was there.
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Lincoln Mitchell - I think there is temptation to overthink this, but any time you have a chance to upgrade from a sub-par hitter and unreliable defender at a key position to a first ballot Hall of Fame in his prime, you do it. So, if I could take one player from that era, I would take Derek Jeter.
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Cary Greene - If I could bring back one Yankees person from the 1998-2000 dynasty teams to help the current Yankees team for the stretch run, I'd have to go with the 1998 version of David Wells. The current Yankees need help at the front end of the rotation and Wells was lights-out in '98. I was tempted to pick Ramiro Mendoza actually, as I think the Yankees could also use a stabilizing force for the eighth inning, but I'm going with Boomer Wells all the way on this one.
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Paul Semendinger - I was thinking the same way as Ed and Lincoln. Mariano would be great, and he's needed, but the team has to get to the ninth inning with a lead so the player to get is Jeter. Maybe Anthony Volpe can watch how Jeter plays and learn from him.
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Derek McAdam - It’s a tough decision to make since there are several names, but I think Mariano Rivera would be my choice. Yankee fans have been subjected to questionable closers over the past few years, and Rivera would at least put those fears to rest. Plus, Mariano could pitch multiple innings if needed without breaking a sweat.
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Ethan Semendinger - Mariano Rivera is not the answer. He'd get overtaxed in the bullpen. Derek Jeter is not the the answer, because the Yankees (and I can't believe I'm saying this) don't *really* need offensive help. Jorge Posada isn't the answer because his numbers from 1998-2000 weren't all that great. However, there are a number of guys who could help fix the bullpen from the other side of the pitching equation: Andy Pettitte, David Cone, and Orlando Hernandez.
Now, from those three, who was the most consistent (by bWAR) across those three years AND who pitched the most innings per start? Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez. He's my pick.
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Mike Whiteman - I'd choose the one player to fill a gaping hole in the lineup and on the field, and the one who could transform the clubhouse - Derek Jeter.
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Tim Kabel - My choice would be Derek Jeter. I think he would be an immense upgrade at shortstop and would provide leadership. In addition to Aaron Judge that could help turn things around for this group.
Jeter does seem the obvious answer and i would absolutely not say it is wrong!! that said, in their pod today, at one point, Paul and EJ said that Judge would push Oneill off of the starting lineup on the 98 team
I think there is a very serious case to be made that Paul should be the player that this team needs. if we start talking about positions?? there is the obvious conflict with RF. I am trying to remember if Paul played any LF with Cincy but I think when he started they went Kal Daniels, Eric Davis, Paul from LF to RF. my guess is he never played much LF. could he? otherwise I guess the alignment w…
Fun article but I don't think any one player is going to make that much of a difference with the present team. The dysfunction at all levels in the Yankees' organization is what needs to be addressed--from the minors all the way to the front office. But I'll play along. Some have suggested Mariano but he'd be burned out by July because the starters rarely go past the 5th inning. He'd be asked to pitch in the 8th and then the 9th. I'd go with Jeter because he wouldn't take any crap or lack of hustle. Since Boone won't enforce the law, Jeter might.
It's funny that this a question today, because today, The Athletic asked, 'How to fix Anthony Volpe?' To me, it's not that complicated, but for the Yankees it is because it means doing things they don't do, with methods they don't use.
Given my disgust with the bullpen, the obvious answer is Mo. But the key to the stretch (and the post-season) is being competitive with the best teams, against whom they simply don't score. Jeter would be the biggest offensive upgrade available, and I'd take the hit on defense for that upgrade at the plate. Volpe's oWAR projects to 1.6 for the full season. For '98-'99, Jeter's oWAR averaged 7.7 per season.
Even taking into account Jeter's replacement-level defense, he's still 5 bWAR better than Volpe. But that goes to show that one player is not a difference maker -- the Yankees would still by a half game back of the Blue Jays. Even peak Jetes for a whole year mig…
Jeter! Gotta be!