MLB rumors: Why Bryce Harper is a 'great fit' for Yankees

by Felix Pantaleón

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman will consider signing free-agent slugger Bryce Harper. The Yankees are set in the outfield with Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Hicks. Would Cashman sign Harper, the 2015 National League MVP, and move him to first base?

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is facing a big decision. Does he make a run at free-agent outfielder Bryce Harper, who is perhaps the best hitter on the market?

If so, what position does Harper play?

With Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Hicks already under contract for 2019, the Yankees are set in the outfield.

Harper and his agent, Scott Boras, have floated the idea of the 26-year-old moving to first base.

It’s an idea Cashman hasn’t completely rejected (at least not yet).

MLB.com’s Jim Duquette thinks the Yankees should sign Harper first, and worry about where he will play later:

“I think Harper’s a great fit in New York,” said Duquette. “I would not let any of the other outfielders they have get in the way of acquiring him.”

Duquette added that he would have a hard time moving Harper to first base — at least initially — preferring instead to move regular outfielder Brett Gardner to the bench. Duquette also brought up the possibility of dealing outfielder Aaron Hicks into a market starved for quality center fielders (outside of free agent A.J. Pollock) to make room for Harper.

“I’m not letting any of those guys get in the way of signing Bryce Harper,” said Duquette. “If my owner said, ‘Go ahead and do it,’ then Harper is definitely the better fit.”

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On Tuesday, Cashman went on MLB Radio and weighed in publicly on where he stands with respect to Harper playing first base. Per MLB.com:

“People have talked about Bryce Harper being able to play first base, I don’t know if he can or can’t,” Cashman said. “I know he’s very athletic, but that’s not necessarily a bet I would recommend placing with the amount of money he’s expected to get.”

Would Bryce Harper have to play first base to fit on the #Yankees? @Jim_Duquette doesn’t think so: pic.twitter.com/wTTrL3I5xo

— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) November 25, 2018