If the prevailing thought around baseball is correct, the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies will end up with Bryce Harper and Manny Machado. The question is, which player ends up where?
It was expected that the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies would be players for Manny Machado and Bryce Harper. The Yankees had, rather uncharacteristically, been quiet in free agency last year, looking to get under the salary cap for what was expected to be a spending spree this offseason. The Phillies, meanwhile, had a large amount of available funds, leading to ownership to say that they were ready to “spend stupid” this offseason.
That thought is shared by many in the industry, as both Harper and Machado are expected to end up in New York and Philadelphia. The question is – which one will end up where?
prevalent baseball exec opinion: Harper & Machado wind up with NY & Philly, 1 to each. but which one goes to which team? philly seems most aggressive, yanks have admitted interest in machado but downplayed interest in harper (they have had internal and external BH talks however)
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 21, 2018
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The Yankees are known to have discussed Machado, with Hal Steinbrenner calling the All Star infielder’s comments on hustling “troubling.” However, they are still in the hunt for his services, provided his contract demands fit their idea of the right price. Harper has also generated interest in the Bronx, with the Yankees considering him as an option for first base.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, is looking at both in a more traditional sense. They have room on the roster to play both in their natural positions, with potential holes and short, third, and right field. In fact, the Phillies had been considered the odds-on favorite to sign both Harper and Machado. The money is there, especially given those earlier comments regarding their spending.
However, if these rumors do come true. one team will end up with Machado and the other one with Harper. If that is the case, then it may make sense for Machado to end up with the Phillies, and for Harper to be with the Yankees. This would solve New York’s revolving door at first base, or conceivably move Giancarlo Stanton to a permanent role as the designated hitter. Machado would conceivably be the Phillies answer at third, ending the Maikel Franco Experiment, or would keep Scott Kingery in a utility role.
The Yankees and Phillies are expected to sign Bryce Harper and Manny Machado by executives around baseball. It is just a question of which team gets which player.