New York Yankees 1997: Trade Mariano Rivera for Randy Johnson or Pedro Martinez

This is difficult to imagine but it almost happened.

After being eliminated in the 1997 ALDS, the New York Yankees considered adding Randy Johnson to their pitching staff.

The Seattle Mariners were ready to send Johnson and another player to the Yankees in exchange for (it's difficult to write this it seems so incredible) Ramiro Mendoza, Ricky Ledee and Mariano Rivera.

Mariners general manager Woody Woodward wanted Andy Pettitte included in the deal. George Steinbrenner indicated that the Yankees "absolutely draw the line" on Andy Pettitte.

A Yankees spokesman asked the media to "Tell Yankee fans to rest easy. Pettitte's going nowhere. George knows he'd be run out of town if he made that deal."

Wait, it gets better.

The Yankees considered getting Randy Myers to replace Rivera but concluded that paying him and Johnson was too expensive. The plan was to make Hideki Irabu the closer in 1998. That would have pleased Mr. Steinbrenner.

Before pursuing Johnson, the Yankees went after Pedro Martinez, offering the Montreal Expos Rivera. There is an excellent chance that would have happened if free agent closer Roberto Hernandez hadn't decided to sign with the Tamp Bay Rays.

If the Yankees acquired Johnson, their 1998 starting rotation would have been Johnson, Pettitte, David Cone and David Wells. Would the Yankees have gone after Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez?

The only good thing would have been that if the Yankees managed to win the 2001 pennant, they might have won the World Series since Johnson would have been on their side.

Of course, the butterfly effect" might mean that the Arizona Diamondbacks might not have won the NL pennant.

Mr. Steinbrenner considered himself an "expert." He was willing to trade Ron Guidry soon after Guidry joined the team. General manager Gabe Paul threatened to leave if Guidry were traded, forcing Mr. Steinbrenner to back down.

Mr. Steinbrenner was willing to trade Mariano Rivera but Seattle demanded a starting pitcher and refused to "settle" for Rivera.

The Yankees were extremely fortunate that the Mariners "expert," Woody Woodward, was the equal of the Yankees "expert," George Steinbrenner.

If Roberto Hernandez hadn't signed with Tampa Bay, the Yankees would have sent Rivera to the Expos for Pedro. He wouldn't have pitched for the Boston Red Sox.

If Woodward were willing to "accept" Rivera, Johnson would have joined the Yankees in 1998 instead of in 2005.

How many World Series would the Yankees have won without Mariano Rivera?

The Yankees and Seattle recently made a major trade, The Yankees sent Jesus Montero, a "can't miss top hitter" to Seattle in exchange for potential ace Michael Pineda.

Does anyone think that she knows how that is going to turn out?