TAMPA — The Yankees are reviving a tradition that once marked their Spring Training experience as unique and special, inviting a longer list of iconic players as guest instructors.
This year’s expected list includes Jorge Posada, Mike Mussina, Bucky Dent, Joe Torre, CC Sabathia, Alfonso Soriano, and Tino Martinez — and, for the first time in many years, Roger Clemens, according to sources briefed on these plans. Those names do not necessarily represent the complete list of guest instructors.
For decades, the Yankees welcomed legends back during spring training. The tradition never stopped, but the list has shrunk in recent years, due in part to the pandemic (and possibly Goose Gossage’s rants against the organization).
Willie Randolph and Ron Guidry have remained regular presences, and will continue in their instructor roles this spring. Andy Pettitte, in his capacity as a special advisor, is around the team on an intermittent basis all year. Last year, Torre donned a uniform and made a pitching change in a spring training game.
But this year’s volume of names across eras represents a bit of a callback to Yankee spring trainings of years past.
Word around the team is that there was no grand plan to re-open the floodgates this year; rather, manager Aaron Boone values the team’s history, and has spearheaded many of the individual invitations.
Clemens’ return is notable because, as far as anyone around here can remember, he hasn’t been involved with the team since 2007, the final season of his playing career.
A beloved teammate when he pitched for the Yankees, Clemens ended his career on a sour note with his inclusion — along with Pettitte’s — in the Mitchell Report. He was indicted and subsequently acquitted of lying to Congress about his alleged PED use. Pettitte testified against his longtime friend in that trial, but the two are on good terms now, according to a mutual friend.
Clemens was never persona non grata at Yankees camp. The team has reached out to him in prior years. This year, the scheduling worked and he agreed to re-enter the fold.
