MLB rumors: Yankees putting Bryce Harper at 1st base is ‘intriguing’

Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper and Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Manny Machado headline the MLB free agency class. New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is expected to touch base with representatives of both players. Cashman is in Carlsbad, Calif. this week for the 2018 GM Meetings.

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The crown jewel of the MLB free agency class is Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper.

However, the Yankees would seem set in the outfield with Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Hicks, Brett Gardner and Clint Frazier.

The Yankees seem less certain at first base, where late-season pickup Luke Voit replaced Greg Bird.

Would the Yankees sign Harper and put him at first base? It’s not out of the question. But it’s also not a good idea, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal:

The Yankees never can be ruled out on any potential acquisition, but barring a dramatic change — say, a trade of Giancarlo Stanton — Bryce Harper would appear to be a difficult fit.

The re-signing of Brett Gardner leaves the Yankees with six outfielders — Gardner, Stanton, Aaron Judge, Aaron Hicks, Clint Frazier and Jacoby Ellsbury. And while virtually all of them have health questions, the Yankees surely could find better things to do with the $300 million-plus Harper is expected to command — unless the team somehow could acquire Harper at a depressed price, the way it did when it traded for Stanton a year ago.

Harper at first base? The thought is intriguing, given the failure of Greg Bird to establish himself as a regular and question of whether Luke Voit could be productive over a full season. Harper originally was a catcher, and scouts say he has decent hands and feet. Playing first also would result in less wear and tear on him physically, perhaps enabling him to be even better offensively.

Imagine, though, if the Yankees signed Harper to a monster deal and his transition to first somehow did not go well. The Yankees traded for Alex Rodriguez in February 2004 fully confident he could make the relatively easy switch from shortstop to third base. They could not have the same confidence that Harper would adapt smoothly to first.

Manny Machado remains the more likely Yankees target if the team decides to splurge on one of the two major position-player free agents. The team could play Machado at short while Didi Gregorius recovers from Tommy John surgery, keep him at that position if Gregorius departs as a free agent after next season or play him at third while either trading Miguel Andujar or moving him to first.

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The Harper-to-first-base idea isn’t new. In fact, he was the one who suggested it to the Nationals back in July. He ended up making one appearance at first, on July 28th, in a 2-1 loss to the Miami Marlins.

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rosenstein73. Find NJ.com on Facebook.