Fansided

5 teams that can make realistic deals for Bryce Harper

By Rucker Haringey

MILWAUKEE, WI - JULY 25: Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals hits a home run against the Milwaukee Brewers during a game at Miller Park on July 25, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - JULY 25: Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals hits a home run against the Milwaukee Brewers during a game at Miller Park on July 25, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
ST PETERSBURG, FL – JULY 25: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees looks on in the first inning during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on July 25, 2018 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
ST PETERSBURG, FL – JULY 25: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees looks on in the first inning during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on July 25, 2018 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

2. New York Yankees

The Yankees have a large hole in their lineup at the moment due to the injury absence of Aaron Judge. Replacing him with Harper would obviously be a major boost for Aaron Boone’s team.

The real question is what the Yankees might do with Harper after everyone gets healthy. The outfield is already pretty crowded with Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Brett Gardner and Aaron Hicks fighting for the three starting positions. Stanton regularly starts at DH, but that still doesn’t leave an obvious hole for Harper when everyone is healthy.

Then again, this is the Yankees we are talking about. Brian Cashman is more financially cautious than he used to be, but the team still has deep pockets. If they have a chance to acquire a generational talent like Harper they’ll certainly explore the possibility.

The Yankees also would acquire the outfielder with a firm belief they could re-sign him in the offseason. In the long-term, Harper would be an excellent heir to Gardner’s spot in left field. Lots of Yankee fans view Gardner with great affection, but at 34 years of age his run is almost over.

Dealing for Harper might seem like overkill from the Yankees, but this has always been a franchise that acquires talent first, and asks questions later. The real question for New York is whether they want to give up valuable prospects for Harper now or wait to sign him in free agency.

Home/MLB Trade Rumors