Heading into the 1997-1998 offseason, the Yankees had major holes in their lineup, specifically at third base and designated hitter. Cecil Fielder, the father of future big league first baseman Prince Fielder, served as the team’s most common designated hitter, slotting into the lineup there 89 times (he also manned first eight times), while Wade Boggs, who departed for the newly-created Tampa Bay Devil Rays, played 76 games at the hot corner and DH’d for 19. Both positions represented potential spots to upgrade, as both players had their best days in the rearview mirror.
To replace Boggs, the Yankees brought in Scott Brosius, buying low on the former Athletic, whose 53 OPS+ in ‘97 represented a sharp decline from the 121 OPS+ he had posted across the previous two years.