The New York Yankees have made plenty of big splashes in MLB free agency and at the trade deadline in recent years. However, it’s what the team didn’t do with Bryce Harper that might’ve been the costliest.
Harper, now a two-time NL MVP, became a free agent following the 2018 season with the Washington Nationals. At the time a five-time All-Star selection, he received interest from a number of teams including the Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres.
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According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Harper’s agent specifically reached out to the Yankees and “tried hard” to get them involved in the bidding for the MLB star. While Scott Boras wanted New York involved in part because of its payroll and willingness to spend, Harper’s dad also grew up a Yankees fan and he idolized many of the team’s greats.
Instead, per Heyman, the Yankees didn’t view Harper as a proper fit with Giancarlo Stanton already on the payroll and the club planning to eventually sign Aaron Judge to a long-term deal. It would’ve created a logjam in the outfield, with most of New York’s payroll tied up in the position.
However, Boras told the Yankees that Harper was willing to play first base even though he wasn’t familiar with the position. It didn’t matter, New York expressed that it wasn’t a fit and they were unwilling to sign Harper to the contract he wanted.
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Since signing that 13-year deal worth $330 million, Harper has won NL MVP, NLCS MVP and taken the Phillies to the World Series. Off to a strong start in the ALCS, the 31-year-old now has Philadelphia in a position to go to the Fall Classic in consecutive years.
- Bryce Harper stats (2019-2023): .284/.395/.536, .931 OPS, 122 home runs, 368 RBI, 591 hits in 581 games
Meanwhile, the Yankees failed to make the postseason for the first time since 2016 and they haven’t advanced past the American League Championship Series since 2009.