Yankees Reportedly Already Out on One of MLB's Biggest Free Agents
The New York Yankees are typically one of the most active participants in free agency every year, but the Bronx Bombers are reportedly out on one of the biggest prizes in this year’s crop.
The Yankees won’t be pursuing Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper, according to MLB Radio’s Steve Phillips, citing a source.
Bad news for Scott Boras and Bryce Harper: per a source the #Yankees “will not be in on Harper.” Not a complete surprise as indicated by re-signing of Brett Gardner. Seems Machado and pitching additions are Plan A.
— Steve Phillips (@StevePhillipsGM) November 3, 2018
The Yankees have a good outfield in Aaron Hicks, Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge. Plus, they just re-signed veteran Brett Gardner, 35, to a one-year, $9.5 million deal, and veteran Jacoby Ellsbury and 24-year-old Clint Frazier, among others, for depth.
Harper, 26, is a five-time all-star and former MVP (2015) and Rookie of the Year (2012) for the Washington Nationals. Last year, he hit 34 home runs and had 100 RBIs, but hit just .249 — which was 70 points lower than the previous year.
Phillips says pursuing Manny Machado and starting pitchers are the top priorities for the Yankees this offseason.
But there have been reports that the Yankees, once considered the front-runners for Machado, are now lukewarm on the idea of signing him.
Sportsnet New York’s Andy Martino reported last week that team’s brass was not impressed with Machado’s performance in the playoffs — referencing not his lackluster .182 average during the World Series, but some of his on-field antics.
That included not running out ground balls and coming under scrutiny for numerous dirty plays.
https://t.co/L85DyCtUxd Hal Steinbrenner tells me he’s “pissed’ #RedSox won, but that won’t change #Yankees offseason tactics, which includes gauging character. So does that impact Manny Machado?
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) November 1, 2018
The Brewers’ Christian Yelich called Machado a “dirty player” for making contact with the leg of Milwaukee first baseman Jesus Aguilar while running out a ground ball in the NLCS. Machado then appeared to intentionally spike the foot of Boston first baseman Steve Pearce in the World Series.
These incidents made the Yankees wary of committing big money over a long-term deal to Machado, Martino reports.
After they were eliminated by the Red Sox in the ALCS, the Yankees learned their current shortstop, Didi Gregorius, may miss a good portion of the 2019 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right arm.
Gregorius, 28, is excellent defensively and above average with the bat, hitting .268 with 27 home runs and 86 RBIs last year. So the question for the Yankees is do you plug the short-term hole at shortstop with a stop-gap measure or go big and get Machado?
Also, the Yankees could move Gleyber Torres from second base to play shortstop until Gregorius returns and play Ronald Torreyes or Adeiny Hechavarria at second. The Yankees also have a promising young player in Miguel Andujar at third, a position that Machado also plays.
The Yankees have far more question marks in their starting rotation. J.A. Happ and C.C. Sabathia are free agents, so they will need to shore up a staff that currently looks like it includes only Luis Severino and Masahiro Tanaka.
The Yankees may consider re-signing Happ, 35, who pitched well after the Yankees picked him up in a trade with Toronto in July. Other possible free agent pitching targets include the Arizona’s Patrick Corbin and Houston’s Dallas Keuchel, the New York Post reported.
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