Not trade for and sign, full fledged free agent.
I must be forgetting many, but Artemi Panarin is the first to come to mind. Money very well spent, he's the real deal and so likeable.
Full disclosure, I am a Mets fan (yes, pray for me), so I don't think through the lenses of a Yankee fan, and they've signed so many free agents over the years, I can't keep track.
The only good ones I can think of for the Giants are Kareem McKenzie and Antonio Pierce?
Others from any New York team?
Honorable mention to Mike Mussina, Reggie, Plaxico, Beltran, Dave Winfield, Panarin, Curtis Martin, Kevin Mawae, and a bunch of others I'm definitely overlooking.
El Duque is a good one. I'll add Tanaka.
And Kuroda gets overlooked as a very good signing who gave them 3 good years.
The jury is probably still out on KD
The jury is probably still out on KD
That's fair, with the "if he can stay healthy" qualifier.
Haha and what a 2 months they were. MVP chants nightly
I vote for Reggie too. Graves is a also good call
I'm a Mets fan, but yeah, I'd have to agree that Reggie is the best of the bunch.
He blocked for multiple 1,000 rushers and started in two Super Bowl victories.
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For all of the crap he gets, Carlos Beltran was a great FA signing for NYM, and KD in Brooklyn.
The jury is probably still out on KD
To be able to acquire a top 3 current NBA player and easily top 15 all time player via free agency is simply incredible. Jury is in on that one.
Burress, Pierce, McKenzie, Collins, O'Hara, Rolle for the Giants. Panarin, Nylander, Graves for the Rangers. Sabathia, Teixeira, Mussina, Lemahieu for the Yankees. There are probably others I can't think of off the top of my head...
As far as picking the single best? I'm not sure I can do that. It's too early to say Panarin, my vote would be either Sabathia or Graves given the sustained success they had with the team.
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but Reggie Jackson has to be the best
I'm a Mets fan, but yeah, I'd have to agree that Reggie is the best of the bunch.
I'm a Mets fans as well, but Reggie is the clear winner IMO
Reggie delivered 2 rings and 3 WS trips in 5 seasons here. Watching a YouTube video of all of Eli's career TD passes it was unbelievable how many of them were to Plax and he was only here a little over 3 and a half seasons. Both players were brought here to deliver championships and both didn't disappoint (well until Plax literally shot himself)
Plax for Giants makes sense..
For Knicks: Allan Houston is first that popped into my mind and haven't seen him mentioned here yet..
Not a free agent.
Certainly way up there among all-time best acquisitions though.
Piazza came via trade from with Marlins.
Almost all the other names were paid highly and Cruz was as impactful on a championship as any of them (or close).
I was going to mention Catfish. He opened the floodgates for FA, and had a solid career with the Yankees.
Almost all the other names were paid highly and Cruz was as impactful on a championship as any of them (or close).
You're right, it's hard to top VC, but I think most aren't considering UDFA's. Not sure why.
Ron Stone
Michael Barrow
Jeff Feagles
Scott Brosius
Matsui
Andrew Miller had a tasty (and inexpensive) cup of coffee with the yanks
Anthony Mason
He blocked for multiple 1,000 rushers and started in two Super Bowl victories.
Kareem is actually who came to mind first for me as well. Reggie and Plax are up there for sure. Was Messier a free agent signing?
How about the original himself: Catfish Hunter.
Didn't see Kerry Collins yet. Hot and cold, but after the clown car of QBs we had in the 90s some semblance of competence at the position was eye opening. And was just sitting around waiting for a call.
Didn't see Kerry Collins yet. Hot and cold, but after the clown car of QBs we had in the 90s some semblance of competence at the position was eye opening. And was just sitting around waiting for a call.
I said Collins earlier. He had some very good years here, and if you can sign a QB as a free agent and he can take you to a Super Bowl (even if his Super Bowl performance is one of the worst in NFL history), that's enough to warrant mentioning on this list. I actually own 2 Kerry Collins jerseys!
He blocked for multiple 1,000 rushers and started in two Super Bowl victories.
1st name that came to my mind was Kareem.
Have to put Reggie Jackson up there, too.
So there - two Reggies.
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and when you factor in $$$ I don't see how anyone is significantly better than Victor Cruz.
Almost all the other names were paid highly and Cruz was as impactful on a championship as any of them (or close).
You're right, it's hard to top VC, but I think most aren't considering UDFA's. Not sure why.
Well... if you are going to include UDFAs... then maybe you have to say the Willie Mays or Mickey Mantle are the best, right?
I think most in this thread are thinking of signing a Free Agent who has already started a professional career and is changing teams...
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was a great one for the Giants.
He blocked for multiple 1,000 rushers and started in two Super Bowl victories.
1st name that came to my mind was Kareem.
Have to put Reggie Jackson up there, too.
So there - two Reggies.
You might be onto something, we should only sign guys named Reggie!
I said Collins earlier. He had some very good years here, and if you can sign a QB as a free agent and he can take you to a Super Bowl (even if his Super Bowl performance is one of the worst in NFL history), that's enough to warrant mentioning on this list. I actually own 2 Kerry Collins jerseys!
Yeah, KC is ddefinitely on the list. For all of his flaws, he solidified the QB position for a few years. And we'll always have his 41-0!
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In comment 15421621 pjcas18 said:
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and when you factor in $$$ I don't see how anyone is significantly better than Victor Cruz.
Almost all the other names were paid highly and Cruz was as impactful on a championship as any of them (or close).
You're right, it's hard to top VC, but I think most aren't considering UDFA's. Not sure why.
Well... if you are going to include UDFAs... then maybe you have to say the Willie Mays or Mickey Mantle are the best, right?
I think most in this thread are thinking of signing a Free Agent who has already started a professional career and is changing teams...
Mantle and Mays signed as free agents when everyone was signed as a free agent, IOW before there was an amateur draft.
Cruz is not similar to them. Don't want to include UDFA, that's fine, but equating him to Mantle and Mays is a stretch.
I know his last years weren’t great but CC was my favorite FA signing of this era imo. He was a true workhorse in his prime and was one of the keys to winning in ‘09 during his first year here.
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In comment 15421629 Section331 said:
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In comment 15421621 pjcas18 said:
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and when you factor in $$$ I don't see how anyone is significantly better than Victor Cruz.
Almost all the other names were paid highly and Cruz was as impactful on a championship as any of them (or close).
You're right, it's hard to top VC, but I think most aren't considering UDFA's. Not sure why.
Well... if you are going to include UDFAs... then maybe you have to say the Willie Mays or Mickey Mantle are the best, right?
I think most in this thread are thinking of signing a Free Agent who has already started a professional career and is changing teams...
Mantle and Mays signed as free agents when everyone was signed as a free agent, IOW before there was an amateur draft.
Cruz is not similar to them. Don't want to include UDFA, that's fine, but equating him to Mantle and Mays is a stretch.
OK... then Mariano Rivera...
;)
So the rule for the thread is... a guy who was eligible for a draft at some point and then ultimately signed as a free agent... that would make Victor Cruz apply and not Mo, Mantle, Mays...
Haha
Can't believe I forgot Plax...
2008..ugggg
Because Gretzky was well past his prime. Still a good player and had dazzling moments. But not one of the top handful in the league anymore. Which Durant is.
If not for Duaner's accident and Pedro hurting his hip in '06, we'd be celebrating the 15th anniversary of a Mets 'ship..