2002 New York Yankees season

The 2002 New York Yankees season was the 100th season for the Yankees. The team finished with a record of 103–58 finishing 10.5 games ahead of the Boston Red Sox. New York was managed by Joe Torre. The Yankees played at Yankee Stadium. 2002 was a transition year for the Yankees, as they soldiered on without Paul O'Neill, Tino Martinez, Scott Brosius and Chuck Knoblauch, main pieces in the 1990s dynasty. In the playoffs, they lost in the ALDS in 4 games to the Anaheim Angels, marking the 2002 Yankees season a failure as they did not advance to a World Series for the first time since 1997; failing to win their fifth straight pennant; they did not win a World Championship, giving the team a 2-year title drought.

Offseason

 * December 7, 2001: David Justice was traded by the Yankees to the New York Mets for Robin Ventura.
 * December 13, 2001: John Vander Wal was traded by the San Francisco Giants to the Yankees for Jay Witasick.
 * December 13, 2001: Jason Giambi, a free agent, signed a 7-year $120-million deal with the Yankees.
 * January 8, 2002: Luis Sojo was signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees.
 * January 11, 2002: David Wells was signed as a free agent with the Yankees.
 * January 17, 2002: Clay Bellinger was released by the Yankees.
 * January 28, 2002: Ron Coomer was signed as a free agent with the Yankees.
 * March 27, 2002: Bobby Estalella was released by the Yankees.

Broadcasting changes
Beginning this season, the newly launched YES Network began airing regular season games, taking over from MSG Network, cable rights holder for these games until the 2001 season. The on-air team of Ken Singleton and Jim Kaat was moved from MSG to YES beginning this season, while Michael Kay joined as play-by-play commentator beginning this season in addition to radio duties, and they also added retired right fielder Paul O'Neill and former Yankees pitcher David Cone as color commentators; in addition, the over-the-air Yankees games were moved from Fox owned and operated station WNYW to CBS owned and operated station WCBS-TV; Bobby Murcer remained as a play-by-play announcer for the games on over-the-air television. Also beginning this season, the radio broadcasts of Yankees games moved from WABC-AM to CBS Radio-owned AM station WCBS-AM which was a sibling to TV over-the-air rights holder WCBS-TV.

Notable transactions

 * April 8, 2002: Bill Pulsipher was signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees.
 * May 23, 2002: Bill Pulsipher was released by the New York Yankees.
 * July 1, 2002: Raúl Mondesí was traded by the Toronto Blue Jays to the New York Yankees for Scott Wiggins.
 * July 5, 2002: Ted Lilly was traded as part of a 3-team trade by the New York Yankees with Jason Arnold (minors) and John-Ford Griffin to the Oakland Athletics. The Oakland Athletics sent a player to be named later, Carlos Peña, and Franklyn Germán to the Detroit Tigers. The Detroit Tigers sent Jeff Weaver to the New York Yankees. The Detroit Tigers sent cash to the Oakland Athletics. The Oakland Athletics sent Jeremy Bonderman (August 22, 2002) to the Detroit Tigers to complete the trade.

Starters by position
''Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in''

Other batters
''Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in''

Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games, IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Other pitchers
Note: G = Games; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

ALDS
Anaheim's victory secured their place in the American League Championship Series, where they defeated the Minnesota Twins, and subsequently the San Francisco Giants to win the World Series.

This was the first time since 1997 that the Yankees failed to win the American League pennant and advance to the World Series.

Awards and records

 * Jason Giambi, Silver Slugger Award
 * Alfonso Soriano, Most home runs in one season by an American League second baseman (39)

Farm system
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Norwich, Staten Island