Yankees: 5 best offensive WAR seasons of the 21st century

Jason Giambi, 2002, 7.0 WAR

I have to admit. According to Baseball Reference, Robinson Cano also had a 7.0 oWAR in 2012 and 2013, and is ranked higher than Giambi’s 7.0.

But Giambi had a 1.034 OPS and is one of the most underappreciated Yankees ever so I’m going with Giambi.

Giambi’s .925 OPS as a Yankee is the sixth-best in franchise history (min. 800 games). He trails Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, and Charlie Keller.

Giambi signing with the Yankees after the 2001 season was one of the biggest splashes in baseball’s recent memory. He won an MVP in 2000, finished in second in 2001 (robbed by Ichiro), and was one of baseball’s best offensive players.

His 1.130 OPS in 2000 and 2001 was the third-highest in baseball, behind Barry Bonds and Todd Helton. His .338 batting average was also the third-highest, behind Helton and Moises Alou.

Giambi had high expectations when he put on the pinstripes, and boy did he start off slow in replacing Tino Martinez — who replaced Don Mattingly.

He hit .211 in his first 10 games with just two home runs, both in one game.

But on May 17 of that year, he won the hearts of all Yankee fans.

Down 12-9 in the 14th inning to the Minnesota Twins, Giambi blasted a two-out, walk-off grand slam into Section 39 in the pouring rain.

From then through the rest of the season, Giambi slashed .322/.452/.626 with 32 home runs and 94 RBI.

Giambi finished with baseball’s fifth-highest OPS (1.034) and on-base percentage (.435). He finished in fifth place in the AL MVP voting that year.