New York Yankees: Giancarlo Stanton’s effect on the 2019 free agent class
By Sean Dyer
Bryce Harper
As much as it may hurt Yankee fans to hear, acquiring Giancarlo Stanton means there’s very little chance that the New York Yankees pursue Bryce Harper in free agency next year.
Never say never, but there’s just no need for another outfielder in the Bronx.
The Yankees have Stanton, Aaron Judge, and Clint Frazier locked up for the foreseeable future, Aaron Hicks signed through 2019, and Jacoby Ellsbury signed through 2020. New York also has Jake Cave and Billy McKinney who were just added to the 40-man roster and Estevan Florial who is one of the faster-rising prospects in all of baseball.
Even with Brett Gardner coming off the books after the 2018 season and the possibility of the Yankees trading Ellsbury, there are plenty of in-house outfield options who won’t cost close to half a billion dollars.
Harper is an unbelievable player, arguably the best in baseball. But when next offseason rolls around, the Yankees will likely be looking at other areas.
Harper playing center field in between Stanton and Judge seems too good to be true because it probably is.
By signing Giancarlo Stanton, the New York Yankees’ chances of signing Bryce Harper in 2019 decreased to just about zero.