Yankees Rumors: Bryce Harper, Manny Machado Remain Likely To Sign Elsewhere In 2019 MLB Free Agency

The extended free agencies of Bryce Harper and Manny Machado have led to some speculation that maybe the New York Yankees might make a late push to sign one of MLB’s top free agents. The chances that either player will land with the team for the 2019 season and beyond remain unlikely.

Acquiring Machado appears to be at least a possibility for New York, considering the team met with the infielder in mid-December. The Yankees have made an offer to Machado, though it’s reportedly less than what other teams are willing to pay him.

The Chicago White Sox are considered to be the frontrunners to sign Machado.

“It was a really nice dinner,” Yankees’ manager Aaron Boone said of the team’s meeting with Machado two months ago, via The New York Daily News. “I really enjoyed it with him. I feel like I enjoyed him and his wife. He’s a great player. Confident that he’ll be a great player moving forward. But that’s about my take on it. I really enjoyed the day.”

Any rumors linking the Yankees and Harper have to be taken with a grain of salt. General manager Brian Cashman made it clear at the start of the Winter Meetings that New York didn’t plan to make a big play for an outfielder.

Maybe the Yankees have been one of the “mystery teams” that have pursued Harper. Even if that were the case, New York would probably only offer the outfielder a short-term contract. Several recent reports have indicated that Harper is only looking to sign a long-term contract.

Yankees’ owner Hal Steinbrenner recently said he wouldn’t rule out the team making any more moves to improve the roster. New York can certainly afford to pay Harper or Machado, who might both prefer to play in New York if the money were equal.

New York, however, doesn’t appear interested in giving out anything close to a record-setting deal this offseason.

The Yankees re-signed J.A. Happ, C.C. Sabathia and Zack Britton, in addition to adding DJ LeMahieu, Troy Tulowitzki and Adam Ottavino in free agency. None of those players got more than three years guaranteed.