With both superstar free agents Manny Machado and Bryce Harper sitting on the open market, the New York Yankees are in a good position to swoop in and make a deal with one of the two. It’s highly unlikely either will be coming to the Bronx, but it’s a fair question to ask — Would they be interested in a short-term deal?
If Harper was willing to pass on a long-term, big-money contract for one season to legitimately compete for a World Series, should the Yankees pursue him further? Absolutely.
Harper adds an element to the team that would make them instantly better. He bleeds confidence and quality, and the Yanks lack a true high-end lefty in the lineup, at least until Didi Gregorius returns from Tommy John surgery, and even then, who knows if he will return to form.
What Harper would bring to the New York Yankees:
The National’s star outfielder struggled at the plate in 2018, finishing the season with a .249 batting average over 550 at-bats (the most in his seven-year career).
Last season was one of his worst at the plate, as he hit .319 in 2017. Harper would fit into the Yankees’ hitting lineup seamlessly…why? Because he’s a known slugger, which blends well with an order consisting of Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Gary Sanchez. Bryce has averaged 32.25 homers in the last four seasons.
What would a potential contract look like?
If GM Brian Cashman was able to work another act of magic and convince Harper to take a one-year deal with the Bombers, it likely won’t come on the cheap. The slugger is asking for over $300 million in free agency, so allocating a crisp $30 million to him for one-year isn’t out of the question.
He would make a nice chunk of change, but he’d be guaranteeing himself a chance at a ring, and that might be enough to convince a true winner to forego a long-term deal in favor of achieving every baseball player’s dream.