Yankees: Signing Bryce Harper or Manny Machado would be a mistake

The Yankees are still constantly linked to Bryce Harper and Manny Machado. The Bombers should avoid adding either star; instead, the team needs pitching.

This offseason, many fans are eager to see the return of the “Evil Empire.” At the very least, the Yankees seem poised to return to their old ways this winter. With stars like Manny Machado and Bryce Harper on the market, general manager Brian Cashman is practically expected to start throwing money around.

After all, the archrival Red Sox just won the World Series; shouldn’t the Yankees do whatever they can to close the gap with Boston? Pressure, from the team’ owner and millions of demanding fans, is rising to do just that. The Bronx Bombers have been linked to Machado and/or Harper for months, if not years. Once, a reunion with either of these superstars seemed like a match made in heaven. But times have changed.

Machado became one of baseball’s worst villains throughout his time with the Dodgers. He has earned a reputation as a dirty player who doesn’t hustle. Meanwhile, Harper has somewhat struggled on the field, making fans and analysts question whether or not he deserves a contract worth $300, if not more. Both of these two young stars seem to be magnets of negative publicity. This effect would be greatly magnified in New York’s infamous media market.

Sure, either player would pique the interest of fans. Baseball lovers would likely tune in on TV and/or come to the games to see how this spectacle (or circus) plays out. But adding either star seems like a risky gamble. While adding Harper would have made sense before the Giancarlo Stanton trade, dishing out such a hefty chunk of change to a pair of outfielders certainly seems questionable now.

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The 2018 season proved, among other things, that the Yankees’ offense is not the problem. The club lived up to its nickname and broke the single-season record for home runs. Pitching is still clearly the team’s kryptonite.

The rotation remains full of question marks; C.C. Sabathia and Masahiro Tanaka are prone to injuries. More importantly, Luis Severino, the ace of the staff, struggled mightily in the second half so the Yankees can’t afford to assume he’ll return to his All-Star form.

Yes, the team traded for James Paxton but the Yankees need to be aggressive. The club’s formerly presumed favorite target, Patrick Corbin, is off the board. (The Nationals gave Corbin, a native of New York, $140 million to come to Washington.) Subsequently, the options on the free agent market will start dwindling. Swinging another blockbuster trade for someone like Corey Kluber or Trevor Bauer could certainly be an answer to the Bombers’ pitching woes.

Spending millions upon millions of dollars for another big name bat would be a misstep. To borrow from Phillies owner John Middleton, the Yankees don’t need to be “a little bit stupid” in an attempt to improve the team. Handing Harper or Machado a massive contract could hamstring the team for years.

Instead, the Bombers should focus on fixing the pitching staff; by doing so, they’ll put themselves in an excellent position to remain a powerhouse in the American League.