Manny Machado and Bryce Harper are still on the market, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone thinks the Bombers are done this offseason.
Well Aaron Judge, it looks like you won’t have to switch positions after all.
After reports came out that Judge would be willing to change positions for mega free agent Bryce Harper, Aaron Boone quickly put the breaks on any fantasy of an outfield with Harper and Judge.
Aaron Boone says he thinks the #Yankees are done adding pieces before spring training.
— Brendan Kuty (@BrendanKutyNJ) February 5, 2019
Boone reacted to Judge saying he'd change positions if it meant landing Harper.
"Well, I don’t think that scenario is a realistic one for us at this point," Boone said.
Translation: No Harper. #Yankees
— Brendan Kuty (@BrendanKutyNJ) February 5, 2019
While the Yankees have said from day one they were not interested in Harper, there were still some amongst the fan base who hoped the Yankees would be a mystery team and swoop in to sign the 26-year-old.
Boone’s comments tell us, even more, New York is also out on Manny Machado who the club has been linked to all winter. Talk around the league felt the longer Machado was a free agent the more likely he would be a Yankee come Spring Training but that does not appear to be the case anymore.
This offseason has already been a pretty busy one for Boone’s Yankees. The club has checked everything off their wish list adding pitching depth along with strengthening their infield depth.
It all started with a big splash acquiring left-handed pitcher James Paxton from Seattle for top prospect Justus Sheffield. They then shifted and re-signed J.A. Happ after missing out on Patrick Corbin. After David Robertson moved on, they pivoted and signed Zach Britton and Adam Ottavino to create the most dominant bullpen in the game.
They weren’t done after that, signing former star Troy Tulowitzki for the leagues minimum and added another former Rockie in DJ LeMahieu to play in a utility role for Boone.
More importantly for the Yankees outside the free agent and trade acquisitions, Miguel Andujar and Gleyber Torres had the chance to adjust and improve on their rookie campaigns. Gary Sanchez had offseason surgery to a nagging left shoulder injury and is looking to heal up and rebound in 2019.
Pitchers and catchers report in just eight days. It’s time for Boone and company to get to work.
