6 former Yankees players who made it very obvious they couldn't handle New York

Outfielder Rondell White folded under the weight of keeping the last great Yankees dynasty alive

When Rondell White signed a two-year, $10 million deal to join the Yankees ahead of the 2002 season, he arrived at a time when the spotlight couldn't have been more intense.

The Yankees had won four of the last six World Series, and were coming off a devastating defeat in the 2001 October Classic that was famous for many dramatic moments, such as the extra-inning walk-off homer that earned Derek Jeter the nickname "Mr. November" and a heartbreaking end. The city and the nation were also reeling from the September 11th attacks, and the Yankees served as a key distraction as New York looked to heal.

White joined the club at a time when the team was undergoing a wave of additional transitions. Gone were dynasty stalwarts such as Paul O'Neill and Tino Martinez, with O'Neill hanging up his cleats and Martinez moving on to the St. Louis Cardinals.

In addition to White, the Yankees signed former MVP Jason Giambi to go along with the return of David Wells and a key addition in third baseman Robin Ventura. White's role was to stabilize left field and provide the contact, power, and speed combination that had made him a dynamic player up to this point in his career.

He began his career playing for the forgotten Montreal Expos and was coming off a season where he posted a career-best .900 OPS for the Chicago Cubs, who were firmly in their lovable loser era.

Unfortunately, White's performance withered in New York, as he posted a .666 OPS, which would go down as one of the worst marks of his career. He was traded ahead of the 2003 season to the San Diego Padres and would earn his first and only All-Star selection that season, splitting time with the Friars and the Kansas City Royals.

White arrived at a time when the pressure to perform was at an all-time high, even for the Yankees' standards, but his quick turnaround after leaving the Bronx showed that no matter what, he would struggle to handle the New York spotlight.

Starting pitcher Kevin Brown hit a wall with the New York Yankees, literally

To be fair to Kevin Brown, the Yankees acquired the six-time All-Star at the end of his stellar career, trading for him ahead of his age-39 season.

The Yankees had long coveted Brown, who helped lead the Florida Marlins to a World Series title in 1997 before joining the San Diego Padres to head their rotation, serving as the ace of that club which ultimately fell victim to the 1998 juggernaut Yankees in the World Series.

From there, Brown would become the first player in baseball history to land a $100 million free agent deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. When the Yankees traded for Brown and took on the final two years of that then-massive contract, he still looked every bit of an ace, posting a 2.39 ERA in 211 innings of work during his final season in LA.

His first season in the Bronx, 2004, wasn't terrible, but still represented a clear step back; the righty posted a 4.09 ERA over 132 innings. However, he cracked under the pressure that season, breaking his hand in September after punching a wall in frustration.

Things would further unravel for Brown in 2005, as he was limited to just 73.1 innings and posted a 6.50 ERA in what would be the final year of his career.

Dishonorable mentions

Chuck Knoblauch

Sometimes caving under the weight of New York's expectations is a slow burn. That was certainly the case for Knoblauch, who won three rings with the Yankees, but saw a case of the yips derail his once-promising career while simultaneously terrorizing fans who had the misfortune of sitting along the right field line.

Aroldis Chapman

Aroldis Chapman has been known to melt down in key moments throughout his MLB career, not just during his two stints in the Bronx. With that said, the ridiculous way things ended with the Yankees and Chapman's ultimate refusal to be a team player earned him a place among the dishonorable.

Kenny Rogers

Late in his career, Rogers relished tormenting the Yankees as a member of the Detroit Tigers. Earlier in his career, he pitched two of the worst seasons of his career in the Bronx from 1996 to 1997. His hatred towards the pinstripes should serve as proof that he couldn't handle the responsibility of wearing them.

Ed Whitson

Whitson may have had a 15-year big league career in which he posted a 3.79 ERA, but his time with the Yankees from 1985 until being traded back to the San Diego Padres in July of 1986 was not good. During his time in pinstripes, Whitson posted a 5.38 ERA and even came to blows with bazillion-time Yankees manager Billy Martin.