The ones that got away

The yankees have made a number of good moves in the past 10 years (for example, 1997's Kenny Rogers for Scott Brosius trade) that helped win a few World Series titles and keep the Bronx Bombers at the top of the AL East. But for every good move, there was a player that got away. Here is a list of 10 players from the last 10 years that the Yankees would probably want back:

10. Wily Mo Pena (March 21, 2001)
Pena was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for Drew Henson and Michael Coleman. Henson was supposed to be the second coming, but he only appeared in eight games for the Yankees and is now pursuing a career in the National Football League. While Pena is a horrid fielder, he has some pop, as he hit 26 home runs in only 336 at bats in 2004. The Yanks could currently use a guy like this coming off the bench at the moment.

9. Aaron Heilman (June 3, 1997)
Heilman was drafted in the 55th round of the 1997 amateur draft, but did not sign with the Yankees. You can currently find Heilman across the city, pitching for the Mets in Queens. Heilman appeared in 74 games last year, and is on pace to put up similar numbers (an ERA in the high threes) this season. You can't tell me that Joe Torre wouldn't love to have a guy like Heilman in the bullpen.

8. Orlando Hernandez (November 2, 2004)
On this date, Hernandez was granted free agency. He then went on to win a World Series with the White Sox the following season, which included getting out of that bases loaded, no out jam against the Red Sox at Fenway in game three of the Divisional Series. El Duque is now with the Mets, where he has a 2.78 ERA this season. I'm sure the Yankees would love to have him back. As they say, you can never have enough starting pitching, which is something the Bronx Bombers have learned in 2007.

7. Jose Contreras (July 31, 2004)
Contreras was traded to the White Sox with cash for Esteban Loaiza. Loaiza didn't work out in the Bronx, and was gone at the end of the season. Contreras went on to win a World Series, and is a combined 28-16 over the last two seasons. I think the Yankees would gladly take Contreras over the likes of Kei Igawa and company.

6. Damaso Marte (June 13, 2001)
Marte was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Enrique Wilson. While Wilson stayed with the Yankees as a utility man for a few years, and had notable success against Pedro Martinez, Marte is the lefty that Torre would love to have around today. He appeared in 75 games for the Pirates a year ago, striking out 63 in just over 58 innings. This season, Marte has a 1.93 ERA.

5. Joe Borowski (October 15, 1999)
Borowski was granted free agency on this date. Since leaving, he's compiled 103 saves, including 23 already this season with Cleveland. Again, another bullpen arm Torre would love to have at the moment.

4. Mike Lowell (February 1, 1999)
Lowell was traded to the Florida Marlins for Ed Yarnall, Mark J. Johnson, and Todd Noel. The Yanks certainly could have used Lowell, who has the best fielding percentage of any third baseman ever, after Brosius retired following the 2001 season. Sure, that could have meant no Aaron Boone or Alex Rodriguez, but Lowell beat the Yankees in the 2003 World Series and has since taken his act to Fenway. He had 20 home runs last year with the Red Sox, and has 12 already this season. Plus, none of the guys that came to the Bronx panned out: Tarnall was the most successful, with one career big league victory, which came in 1999.

3. Nick Johnson (December 16, 2003)
The Yanks traded Johnson, Juan Rivera, and Randy Choate to the Montreal Expos for Javier Vazquez. Vazquez was gone a year later after a terrible finish to the season, while Johnson continued to flourish in Montreal/Washington before he broke his leg last season. Since leaving the Bronx, Johnson has had an on-base percentage above .400 in every season except 2004, his first (and only) in Montreal. Johnson is also pretty good defensively. You can't tell me that the Yankees wouldn't prefer Johnson at first over Doug Mientkiewicz, Miguel Cairo, or Andy Phillips.

2. Jeremy Bonderman (July 5, 2002)
Okay, so this one's a little bit of a stretch: in a three-way trade, the Yankees sent Ted Lilly, John-Ford Griffen, and Jason Arnold to the Oakland Athletics and received Jeff Weaver from the Detroit Tigers. While Weaver was horrid as a Yankee, and Lilly has never lived up to his potential, both have had some success in the majors. However, the reason why this trade appears on the list is because of what Detroit got: a minor leaguer named Jeremy Bonderman from the Athletics. I'd take Bonderman over Lilly, Weaver, or most of the Yankees' current starters any day of the week.

1. Mark Prior (June 2, 1998)
The Yankees drafted Prior in the 1st round of the 1998 amateur draft, but did not sign him. Before some unfortunate arm injuries, Prior was one of the most dominant and exciting pitchers to watch in the National League. In 2003, the infamous Steve Bartman year, he went 18-6 with a 2.43 ERA for the Cubs, notching 245 strikeouts in just over 211 innings. Prior finished third in the Cy Young Award voting that season, but was never the same. Who's to say what might have happened if he stayed in pinstripes?