THE CRITERIA
Individual stats are important, but we are primarily looking for free agents who impacted winning.
TOP 13 NYC METRO SIGNINGS
- Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks — Recency bias be damned. No one on this list has had a bigger impact on his new team than Brunson. After two decades of dysfunction, the captain has led the Knicks to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.
- Scott Stevens, New Jersey Devils — Not a typical free agent acquisition. In 1991, Brendan Shanahan signed an offer sheet with the St. Louis Blues, and an arbitrator ruled that the Blues must compensate the Devils with Stevens. The future Hall of Fame defenseman captained New Jersey to three Stanley Cup championships.
- Reggie Jackson, New York Yankees — George Steinbrenner chased many high-profile free agents, but none defined his ownership like signing Mr. October. He spent only five seasons in pinstripes — but went to the ALCS four times, the World Series three times, and won two rings.
- Adam Graves, New York Rangers — GM Neil Smith signed RFA Adam Graves to an offer sheet, and then an arbitrator awarded the Edmonton Oilers young forward Troy Mallette. Graves became a heart-and-soul player for the organization and a Core 4 member of the 1994 Stanley Cup champions.
- Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty — Stewart left the Seattle Storm after seven years — “Why not go to the biggest market in all of sports”, she said. “I’m really excited to go after their first championship.” Mission accomplished.
- Richard “Goose” Gossage, New York Yankees — Steinbrenner showed his killer instinct by signing future Hall of Fame closer Gossage, despite the fact that his previous closer — Sparky Lyle — had just won the 1977 Cy Young Award. The result? The Yankees won the 1978 World Series championship and a pissed-off Lyle wrote the best-seller: “The Bronx Zoo: The Astonishing Inside Story of the 1978 World Champion New York Yankees”.
- CC Sabathia, New York Yankees — After missing the playoffs in 2008 for the first time in 14 years, GM Brian Cashman not only wanted to find an ace to replace the retiring Mike Mussina, but a new voice in the locker room to help change the team’s culture. Sabathia helped win the 2009 title and capped off his Hall of Fame career with 134 wins across 11 seasons in pinstripes.
- Curtis Martin, New York Jets — Bill Parcells signed RB Curtis Martin and C Kevin Mawae prior to the 1998 season. The two future Hall of Famers played a big role in making the playoffs four times in their eight seasons — including playing in the AFC Championship Game in 1998.
- Kevin Mawae, New York Jets — See above.
- Artemi Panarin, New York Rangers — Despite what GM Chris Drury said when he traded Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings, our Real Take is that he is not the best free agent signing in Rangers’ history. However, when you score 607 points in 482 games, and reach the Eastern Conference Finals twice, you can’t deny he’s a strong #2.
- Jim “Catfish” Hunter, New York Yankees — Hunter ushered in the free agent era in professional sports when he became MLB’s first official free agent in December 1974. His signing put Steinbrenner and his lust for winning on the map.
- Antonio Pierce, New York Giants — Pierce jumped from the rival Washington Redskins in March 2005 to start a 5-year run as Big Blue’s defensive captain and inspirational leader — which included winning Super Bowl XLII.
- Carlos Beltran, New York Mets — The Mets targeted Beltran after he had an out-of-this-world postseason with the Houston Astros in 2004. Unfortunately, he only made the playoffs once in his seven seasons in Queens. While he is best remembered for striking out to end Game 7 of the NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals — that doesn’t take away from the fact that the Hall of Fame centerfielder had a .869 OPS in 839 career games with the Amazin’s.
A PURPOSEFUL SNUB
Kevin Durant hit free agency in 2019 looking to move to the East Coast and desiring a new challenge. What did he NOT want? The pressure that would’ve come with signing with the New York Knicks.
In baseball, New York splits its allegiance between the Yankees and the Mets. In football, the Giants are #1, but the Jets are a close second. NYC is all-in on the Rangers, but Long Island and New Jersey love the New York Islanders and Devils respectively.
As is obvious now with the Knicks in the NBA Finals — New York is a basically a one-team town. Durant and Kyrie Irving eschewed MSG to play “off-Broadway”.
On the flip side, Brunson was wanted the bright lights and was willing to take on the “savior” role.
That’s why Brunson is #1 on this list, and KD/Kyrie are nowhere to be found.
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