MLB rumors: Bryce Harper to Mets over Yankees? N.J.'s Jon Stewart isn't buying that

by Felix Pantaleón

Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper and Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Manny Machado headline MLB free agency. New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is expected to talk with representatives for both players.

On Monday, MLB.com’s Jon Morosi broke down the likely contenders to sign outfielder Bryce Harper and shortstop Manny Machado in free agency. Morosi was bold enough to include the Mets as a potential landing spot:

The Mets have yet to develop a concrete offseason plan, following the hiring of new general manager Brodie Van Wagenen, but the signing of Machado is a remote possibility. The Mets received little production from the left side of their infield in 2018, and the end of David Wright‘s playing career gives the team clarity — and insurance payments — to aid in their strategy.

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Needless to say, the Mets, who finished with a 77-85 record this season, are a dark-horse candidate to sign Harper and Machado, each of whom could command a 10-year contract worth more than $300 million.

The fourth-place Mets have a new general manager who has no on-the-job-experience and ownership which seems unlikely to drop the amount of money needed to woo Harper or Machado to Citi Field.

Those facts aren’t lost on New Jersey native and Mets super fan Jon Stewart, who talked to TMZ about the Mets making a bid for Harper:

“There’s no way Bryce Harper is coming to the Mets,” Stewart told us in NYC … “It’s not possible!”

“I’m sure they just signed a 14-year-old they’re sure is going to be the next Bryce Harper,” Stewart says … “but is gonna turn out to be just another asthmatic with a bat.”

Making matters worse for Stewart and Mets fans everywhere, they might have to sit back and watch Harper sign with the Yankees, who have the deep pockets necessary to bring the 2015 National League MVP to the Bronx.

Check out all of Stewart’s interview with TMZ in the video below:

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @rosenstein73. Find NJ.com on Facebook.