Bryce Harper To The Yankees Would Make New York World Series Favorites For 2019 MLB Season

The New York Yankees are likely done making any additions before the 2019 MLB season, but it can’t be ruled out the team might have one more move left in them. Owner Hal Steinbrenner recently said as much, leaving the door open for the organization to land one of the available star free agents.

Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are still unsigned with spring training games set to begin in just a couple of weeks. It’s been well-document that both players have had their eyes on playing in the Big Apple, though the Yankees are unwilling to commit big long-term dollars to either All-Star.

The Yankees met with Machado in December and the two sides seem to be far apart on a potential deal. There has been no official reported meeting between Harper and New York, but the revelation that several mystery teams appear to be pursuing the outfielder has some Yankees’ fans dreaming of Harper in pinstripes.

If the slugger and New York did come to some kind of agreement, it would have a major effect on the upcoming season. After the Yankees lost in four games to the eventual champion Boston Red Sox in the ALDS, signing Harper would likely make New York the World Series favorites.

The betting odds at the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook indicate that the Yankees and Red Sox are considered to be on equal footing with their current rosters. It was just a few weeks ago that the two teams both had 6/1 World Series odds. That tied them with the Houston Astros for the best odds in baseball.

Sportsbook.ag currently lists the Yankees ahead of the Red Sox as World Series favorites.

No major free agents have come off the board of late, and one big move could swing the odds in New York’s favor.

The Yankees have already upgraded their rotation by trading for James Paxton early in the offseason, and they’ll have J.A. Happ for a full season after re-signing the starter they acquired before the July 31 trade deadline. The same goes for reliever Zack Britton, and New York essentially swapped David Robertson for Adam Ottavino in free agency to solidify MLB’s best bullpen.

Because of the way their season ended, it’s easy to forget that the Yankees won 100 games in 2018. The Red Sox cruised to the AL East title with 108 wins.

Boston has been quiet this offseason. They re-signed pitcher Nathan Eovaldi and lost reliever Joe Kelly to the Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency. Closer Craig Kimbrel remains a free agent.

The Red Sox were powered by the best offense in baseball last season. Mookie Betts won the AL MVP award and J.D. Martinez finished no worse than second in all three Triple Crown categories. Boston led MLB in runs scored, batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.

New York was second in the league, scoring 25 fewer runs than Boston. A player like Harper might help close that gap.

Harper could have the same kind of impact on the Yankees’ lineup that Martinez did for the Red Sox a season ago. The left-handed power hitter is arguably the perfect player to take advantage of the short porch in right field in the Bronx. A trio of Harper, Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge would give New York the most feared middle of the lineup in baseball.

The odds that the group will become a reality remain slim. General manager Brian Cashman said at the Winter Meetings that the team has enough outfielders, though he did make it clear that New York can’t be counted out when it comes to any available player.

Harper might actually make more sense for the Yankees than Machado at this point. New York’s infield is more crowded than its outfield after signing Troy Tulowitzki and DJ LeMahieu.

Free agents usually take the biggest deal presented to them, and that’s especially the case with someone like Harper, who is looking to become the highest-paid player in the history of the sport. He reportedly ended last season by turning down the Washington Nationals’ offer of $300 million over 10 years, a price the Yankees almost certainly won’t match.

But Harper’s extended free agency has increased the possibility that he might take a shorter deal with a historic average salary, one that could allow him to sign a longer contract down the road. Several unknown suitors have entered the race for Harper since he’s yet to receive his desired offer.

The lack of movement among MLB’s top free agents has given the Yankees a potential window to sign Harper in their quest to shift the balance of power in the American League.