MLB trade rumors: Yankees facing dark-horse candidate for Nationals' Bryce Harper

by Felix Pantaleon

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Manny Machado and Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper are the crown jewels of the upcoming MLB free agency class. Both players could command contracts which approach $400 million. Deep-pocketed teams such as the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies are expected to make runs at both All-Stars.

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Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Manny Machado and Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper are the crown jewels of the upcoming MLB free agency class.

Deep-pocketed teams such as the Yankees and Phillies are expected to make runs at both players.

But the Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo has details on a dark-horse candidate for Harper:

Bryce Harper, OF, Nationals — There’s been a lot of speculation about the Dodgers, Yankees, Braves, Phillies, and Nationals being in pursuit of Harper as a free agent, but one team you shouldn’t rule out is the Giants, who desperately need to revamp their offense. Harper would be a good way to start. The Giants are ranked 21st in runs and 27th in OPS (.684).

Yanks’ lineup for wild card game vs. A’s?

The Giants would be an interesting bidder for Harper. They have a definite need for offense and a hole in the outfield after trading Andrew McCutchen to the Yankees.

Harper is having a sub-par season for a Nationals team which has failed to live up to expectations.

Harper, the 2015 National League MVP, hit just .214 before the All-Star break as the Nationals struggled to get out of the gate.

Washington is 69-69 this season, putting them in third place in the National League East, 7.5 games behind the first-place Atlanta Braves. The Nationals are in sixth place in the NL wild card race.

However Harper is hitting .319 since the All-Star Break (when he won the 2018 MLB Home Run Derby) and has 31 home runs in 2018, which is tied for second in the National League.

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