Peter Gammons says Yankees will sign Bryce Harper, not Cubs

Peter Gammons says that his recent interview on a Chicago radio show was misconstrued and that he fully expects Bryce Harper to sign with the Yankees when he hits free agency after the 2018 season.

So I’ve been on my honeymoon in Europe for the past two weeks, how’d the Yankees do?

I’m kidding! Luckily, Verizon Wireless has an amazing plan for $10 per day to access your phone as if you were still in the States. And no, they didn’t pay me to write that.

Anyway, through Twitter and random texts from colleagues, I got word all the way in Italy that Bryce Harper was well on his way to playing for the Cubs in 2019. This made for more than a few anxious Yankee fans.

However, it wasn’t until earlier today that I was actually able to dive into the topic, and as it turns out Gammons set the record straight on a recent episode of the Rich Eisen Show, as reported by The Washington Post.

"That was very simplified; it was a Reader’s Digest version of the interview,” Gammons said Monday on the “Rich Eisen Show.” “The interview was about Kris Bryant. … [Harper] and Bryant grew up in Las Vegas so they know one another, they’re both great guys. And people say ‘Well, he would love to play for the Cubs,’ but I said they’re not going to be able to afford both guys, so probably it’ll never happen. But somehow that went into I said he wanted to play for the [Cubs]."

Of course, a Chicago-based radio station would perpetuate the idea of adding Harper to the Cubs’ impressive (yet currently struggling) offense.

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With Harper likely to command a contract somewhere around $400 million — Bryant probably nearing that number in 2022 — and the albatross that is Jason Heyward‘s $184 million through 2023, the likelihood of Bryce Aron Max Harper ever playing in Wrigley is purely a pipe dream.

Gammons, the self-proclaimed Red Sox fan, went on to let the world know why he thinks Harper will end up in the Bronx.

"If I were to guess one place, it would be the Yankees,” Gammons said. “Because they’re going to have so much money to spend at the time he’s out there. And there’s no doubt in my mind that Bryce could take the pressure of playing in New York. I mean, this guy was on the cover of Sports Illustrated at 16, was made out to be a divisive figure by the time he would have been a freshman in college–which, he wasn’t a divisive figure, but that’s the image, because he’s brash.But I think that he can handle New York, and I think that they would pay huge money. And by the time he would get there … I think two years from now when Gleyber Torres is there and a couple more kids come along, I think they’re going to be an absolute monster powerhouse for years. And add Harper to that, it could really be something. It’s a great investment because they could own the city, and we know that all the television ratings and attendance go with it. I think it would be a great pick."

While many Yankee fans are quick to point out that the club would be better off investing half a million dollars or so in rebuilding their pitching staff, or possibly a first baseman if Greg Bird doesn’t answer the call, a player with Harper’s skill set doesn’t hit free agency very often.

Next: Get a hold of Pineda!

Should Aaron Judge continue to grow at his intended rate, and Clint Frazier, Dustin Fowler and/or Blake Rutherford stake claim to a big league outfield position before the winter of 2018, then maybe the Yankees won’t spend lavishly on Harper. But much like Gammons, I feel if the opportunity to sign him does present itself — the Yankees will indeed.