Bryce Harper, Yankees Never Came Close To Agreement, New York Pursued Other Free Agents In 2019

Bryce Harper Nationals Yankees — Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals in action against the New York Yankees during their game at Yankee Stadium on June 12, 2018 in New York City. Al Bello/Getty Images

The news that Bryce Harper and the Philadelphia Phillies agreed to a 13-year, $330 million contract Thursday didn’t come as much of a surprise. Philadelphia was expected to acquire either Harper or Manny Machado this offseason, and they became the favorites to sign the outfielder even before the star infielder joined the San Diego Padres.

A little more than a year before Harper’s free agency began, the New York Yankees were viewed as one of the frontrunners for the 2015 NL MVP winner. That all changed when the team traded for Giancarlo Stanton in December 2017.

New York pursued Machado this winter, though they didn’t make him the highest offer. After hearing that Harper joined the Phillies, Yankees’ manager Aaron Boone confirmed that the Bronx Bombers weren’t in the running for MLB’s top free agent this offseason.

Aaron Boone on Harper: “That’s a lot of iron. I’m glad he’s not in our league.”

Boone said there was no point this winter that Harper was even a remote possibility for the Yankees.
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) February 28, 2019

The Yankees spent their money elsewhere this winter. New York re-signed pitchers J.A. Happ, C.C. Sabathia and Zack Britton. The Yankees also added infielders Troy Tulowitzki and DJ LeMahieu, and they are projected to be above the $206 million luxury tax threshold.

Earlier this week, the race for Harper came down to the Phillies, San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers. L.A. was viewed as his preferred choice, but the Dodgers reportedly offered the 26-year-old about half the guaranteed money that he’s getting from the Phillies.

Harper had eyes on Los Angeles in part because he wanted to play on the biggest stage possible. That’s why he reportedly had the Chicago Cubs near the top of his list at the start of the offseason. Chicago never made Harper an offer.

There’s no bigger stage than New York, and Harper might be wearing pinstripes in 2019 if the Yankees made a play for him. The six-time All-Star idolizes Mickey Mantle, and it seemed fitting that he would one day also patrol the outfield in the Bronx.

Instead, Harper will play his home games 110 miles away as the owner of the most lucrative contract in MLB history.

Major league baseball