Turn Back The Clock: November 30th, 2000-The Yankees Go Moose Hunting

For many years, the Yankees have been accused on “buying their championships” because they tend to spend more money in free agency than most teams, and they have one of the highest payrolls in all of baseball. When you are the three-time defending World Series champions, there is very little you won’t do to help your team stay on top. That is exactly what George Steinbrenner did less than two months after his Yankees defeated the crosstown rival New York Mets in the Subway Series of 2000.

A team that on the surface, had a plethora of pitching riches, were always on the hunt to add more. Departing from the champs were mainstay David Cone, who easily had his worst season in pinstripes, finishing 4-14 with an ERA of 6.51. He did record a crucial out during the World Series in relief of Denny Neagle however. The former hired gun of the Boss, was now headed to Boston to join the hated Red Sox. 

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Returning to the rotation in 2001 was Roger Clemens, Orlando Hernandez, Andy Pettitte, and youngster Ted Lilly. The Yankees, who were used to battling teams in the rugged AL East, were ready to take the war off the field, as they looked to poach the Baltimore Orioles ace, Mike Mussina. Moose as he was affectionately known, was coming off a tough year by his standards, with an 11-15 record, but a very respectable ERA of 3.79, and over 200 Ks.

The decision for Mussina was not an easy one, but it simply came down to this: join a team that can win a World Series every year, or face that team and never get the chance? After going back and forth, Mussina made his decision: on this day, 14 years ago, Mike Mussina signed a six-year, $88.5 million dollar pact to become the latest gun in the Yankees’ pitching arsenal.

Moose would see World Series appearances in both 2001 and 2003, and unfortunately, would retire without ever having won a championship, as the Yankees lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks in seven games in 2001, and six games to the Florida Marlins in 2003. Mussina had a very respectable career as a member of the Yankees, which ended at the conclusion of the 2008 season, one in which he won 20 games for the first and only time in his storied career.

As the Baseball Writers Association of America review their Hall of Fame ballots for the class of 2015, perhaps a Moose call will be in order when the announcements are made. Today, we celebrate the Moose getting fit for pinstripes, as he joined the Yankees on this day in 2000.