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Top Nine Jeter-Era Yankees Deadline Deals

By Lou DiPietro

The MLB Trade Deadline isn't until July 31, but the Yankees struck early - and seemingly out of nowhere - by acquiring Ichiro from the Mariners on July 23.

Last year, the Yankees stood pat for the first time in a decade, keeping the team they had on July 31 for the rest of the year. Whether or not they're done this year remains to be seen, but Mr. Suzuki excluded, we here at The Niner can always look back fondly at some of the best midsummer moves the Yankees have made over the years…say, in the Jeter era for reference sake?

  • 9: I-ROD JOINS A-ROD (2008)

    With Jorge Posada injured, the Yankees and Detroit consummated a deal that brought Ivan Rodriguez to the Bronx. Pudge struggled and the Yankees missed the playoffs, but at least they can say that they employed two of the best catchers of this generation at the same time.

  • 8: HELLO, JERRY (2009)

    He may not have been a huge star, but the acquisition of Jerry Hairston Jr. in 2009 gave the Yankees a versatile player who could hold his own with the bat - and he ended up being a key reserve on a team that won the World Series.

  • 7: PUMAS AND CUBS AND INDIANS, OH MY! (2010)

    Three separate deals in 2012 brought the Yankees Lance Berkman, Kerry Wood, and Austin Kearns. They didn't repeat as champions, but Wood (0.69 ERA, 31 K) excelled and both Berkman and Kearns produced some big hits.

  • 6: SHAWN THE SAVIOR (2005)

    The Yankees' pitching staff was decimated by injuries in 2005 - but after coming over from Colorado, Shawn Chacon became an unlikely ace, going 7-3 with a 2.85 ERA down the stretch to help the Bombers win their eighth straight AL East title.

  • 5: JUSTICE IS SERVED (2000)

    The Yankees sent three prospects to Cleveland in June 2000 to get David Justice, who promptly went .305-20-60 down the stretch and helped the team win the World Series. As a bonus, he hit 18 more home runs in 2001 before being traded to the Mets for Robin Ventura.

  • 4: BIG DADDY'S HOUSE (1996)

    That's what the Stadium became in 1996, when Cecil Fielder was acquired from the Tigers. In 151 games with the Bombers in 1996 and 1997, Big Cecil hit 26 bombs, drove in 98 runs, and won his only World Series ring with the '96 team.

  • 3: EL COMEDULCE COMETH (2006)

    Fresh off his Home Run Derby victory, Bobby Abreu was traded from Philly to the Bombers at the 2006 deadline. Abreu was definitely sweeter than candy, as he hit .295 in the Bronx and posted back-to-back seasons of 100 RBI.

  • 2: AARON BLEEPIN' BOONE (2003)

    Aaron Boone was only in the Bronx for a few months, and he only hit .254 in 54 games as a Bomber. But, uh, you might remember that he hit a pretty big home run that October.

  • 1: CONEY'S ISLAND (1995)

    David Cone came to New York in a '95 deadline deal with Toronto, and all he did was win 64 games and four World Championships over the next 5 ˝ years. Oh, yeah, and that Perfect Game thing too, he did that.

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