Report: Yankees remain "preferred" destination for Bryce Harper and Manny Machado

Report: Yankees remain "preferred" destination for Bryce Harper and Manny Machado
12/27/2018 3:09 PM ET
By A.J. Herrmann
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Where will Manny Machado and Bryce Harper end up?(AP)
The days between the Christmas holiday and the impending New Year are some of the quietest in Major League Baseball's busy offseason, but the question on everyone's mind remains: Where will Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, two of the youngest and most talented free agents in recent memory, end up?
The Yankees, seemingly well-positioned to make a big-time splash, remain high on both players' lists of preferred destinations, Joel Sherman of The Post reports, and cannot be counted out in this year's free agency sweepstakes for any marquee talent.

Many expect the Bombers to add some more pieces to their bullpen as Zach Britton and David Robertson are currently both free agents, but other names like Adam Ottavino, among several others, could also be on the team's radar.

Still, with the two aforementioned big fish occupying the same small free agency pond, any team willing to sign either superstar has a chance to shift the balance of power in its division with a single pen stroke.

"The Dodgers and Yankees could offer shorter deals for large annual values and force Harper/Machado to decide whether they want the long money or an all-but-guaranteed chance to win annually and another shot at free agency," Sherman writes.

"Word is neither player particularly likes Philadelphia and both would have preferred the Yankees, who have shown little interest in Harper."

Though Scott Boras would prefer otherwise, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has stated on record that his club did not see Harper as a realistic acquisition this winter, despite the long-running rumors linking the two parties.

Harper was a noted Yankee fan as a youth, and as one of the biggest stars in the game, he would be a natural fit in the bright lights of the Big Apple. The Dodgers, however, could offer the same kind of glitz and glamor, and just cleared room in their outfield rotation for the possible arrival of Harper.

"Even if the Dodgers refuse to offer the mega-deal, landing there for four-ish years is what is best for Harper and - not that this should matter to the slugger - the game," Sherman continues.

"Harper is the one player who could walk down a street and be recognized even by the casual fan. He belongs in the star factory because it would extend his brand like no other locale, while being so close to his Vegas home."

What's best for baseball may not align with what's best for Harper, or Machado for that matter, but until both players sign their names on the dotted lines for their new clubs, speculation will continue to run wild.

Stay tuned to YES Network for all the latest Yankees news and updates as baseball's offseason unfolds into 2019.

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