For the last few seasons, New York Yankees principal owner Hal Steinbrenner, mandated that GM Brian Cashman get the organization under luxury tax threshold to reset their penalties, which had reached the maximum 50% mark. 2018 was the first time in the fifteen years of the modern luxury tax that the Yankees were able to stay under the threshold for the entire season. With now free agent catcher Brian McCann’s contract coming off the books, the Yankees will enjoy significant payroll flexibility for this offseason.
If there ever was a time for this team to reset it’s tax penalties, it was now, with a free agent class led by stars Manny Machado and Bryce Harper, both linked to the bombers for years. One of these two superstars will most likely end up in pinstripes as part of a megadeal, especially with the Yankees reportedly performing “extensive” background checks on Machado.
While Steinbrenner would stay under the luxury tax for more than one year, Cashman stated on WFAN that he is no longer mandated to remain under the threshold, which will increase to $206 million starting in 2019. This means that we could see an offseason shopping spree similar to that of exactly a decade ago, and we all know how that one turned out. The only question is, who exactly is on Cashman’s shopping list?
Bryce Harper: OF
2018 Stats (WSH):
.249 AVG, 34 HR, 100 RBI, .393 OBP, .496 SLG, .889 OPS, 1.3 WAR
Harper comes off what some would consider a down year, both for him and the Nationals, who finished third in the NL East in 2018. Despite that, the former Rookie of the Year and MVP enters his first free agency looking to get paid.
Harper’s reported starting point on a deal is ten years worth $350 million dollars. That would put him over Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton for the most lucrative contract in sports history. That may not be the final offer, but Harper’s agent, Scott Boras, may certainly get his 26-year-old client as close to such a deal as possible.
Harper would be a fantastic addition to any team for his age alone. Having been called up to the majors at 19, whoever signs him will not have to worry about decline by age for a long time. For the Yankees, Harper would fulfill a huge offensive need; left-handed power.