Yankees Rumors: Keeping tabs on free agent infielder Josh Harrison

Though Manny Machado still appears to be within the Yankees reach, Jon Heyman reports the Bombers are also keeping an eye on free agent Josh Harrison, just in case.

Is free agent Josh Harrison a realistic fallback option for the Yankees if Manny Machado were to sign outside the Bronx? Well, if that is indeed the case, the Bombers will have plenty of competition for the 31-year-old utility player.

According to Jon Heyman of Fancred Sports, the Yanks are just one of eight teams potentially in on  Harrison, the Ohio-native.

Josh Harrison, very good super utility player with plus 39 DRS at 2B/3B, has interest from Nats, Reds, Rangers, Giants, Brewers, with Yanks, Phils, Dodgers potentially in play, depending on the big guys.

Though Harrison’s ability to play second base, shortstop, third base and all three outfield positions are uber-important on a 25-man roster, the All-Star in 2014 and 2017, is coming off a below average walk-season with the bat.

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In 344 at-bats (only 97 games played due to a fractured left hand in mid-April), the eight-year veteran slashed just .250/.293/.363 with 13 doubles, eight home runs, 37 RBIs and a 68:16 K:BB ratio.

Estimated to make $14.5 million per season for two years by Fangraphs, I’m not sure the Yankees would be inclined to offer Harrison such a deal, considering they are still in need at least one high-end reliever, regardless of Machado’s landing spot.

With respectable career numbers that include a 15.2 percent strikeout rate, .313 BABIP and 13.9 WAR, Harrison would be an excellent option for the Bombers at second base (where he’s played 397 career contests), at least until Didi Gregorius’ comeback from Tommy John surgery towards the latter part of the summer.

Sir Didi’s return would allow Gleyber Torres to slide back over to second — moving Harrison to an all-important bench option and late-inning defensive replacement.

If Machado were out of the picture (let’s hope not) and the Yanks could sign Harrison for one-year, and somewhere around $10M, he’d have more than half a season to reestablish himself as a player deserving of everyday starts.

As we saw from Aaron Boone’s Bombers last season, roster flexibility is paramount, especially down the stretch and into the postseason. If Harrison can turn back the clock, even a little, to resemble the type of producer he was in 2017, he’d be a significant addition.