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Why Bryce Harper is a better Yankees fit than Manny Machado

First of all, if I owned both the Yankees and a time machine, I would acquire Justin Verlander from the Tigers in 2017 and shrug off Giancarlo Stanton’s availability last winter, bolstering these past two postseason runs (as well as weaken the Astros by keeping Verlander from them) and creating a clear economic runway to tackle this winter’s seminal “Bryce versus Manny (versus Neither)” decision.

Next, if handed their current scenario? I’d pass on both Bryce Harper and Manny Machado. Not because I’m concerned for the Steinbrenners’ financial health, but rather because it simply is poor roster management to commit mega-dollars to two players you barely know. Stanton already gives them one such commitment.

Yet if the Yankees are as serious about signing Machado as they appear to be, welcoming him to Yankee Stadium on Wednesday for a 90-minute meeting, if they’re willing to dive right back into this pool only a year after Stanton produced mixed results and mixed feelings?





Then I’d sign Harper instead.

If we’re talking about, let’s say, a seven-year vision through Harper’s and Machado’s age-32 season of 2025 — understanding that both guys are aiming for deals longer than seven years — then Harper, whom GM Brian Cashman has virtually eliminated from consideration, fits the Yankees in The Post’s humble opinion, for the following reasons:

1. Lefty balance. We all know how right-handed the traditionally lefty-leaning Yankees have turned in their Baby Bombers era, and that became only more pronounced in 2018 with not only the arrival of Stanton but also the emergence of righty bats Miguel Andujar, Gleyber Torres and even Luke Voit, and the regression of lefty-swinging Greg Bird. Throw in Tommy John surgery for Didi Gregorius, arguably the team’s best pure lefty hitter, and the Yankees presently are more right than coconut cake at a steakhouse. Yankee Stadium’s lefty-friendly dimensions make the current imbalance all the more glaring.





2. Positional need. In the short term, of course, the Yankees must solve their infield due to Gregorius’ absence. And the possibility exists that Gregorius might not be able to return at the same level, or at all. So Machado, a natural shortstop who plays an even better third base, would serve as one heck of a doorstop shortstop.

Most position players who undergo TJ surgery do make it back, however, and Cashman is on record that he’d like to retain Gregorius, a potential free agent after next season, beyond his team control. Then there’s Andujar, another signed and developed guy whose outstanding bat and strong work ethic provides reason to fantasize over how much value he’d provide if he grew into merely an adequate defender at the hot corner.





In the outfield, the Yankees’ great quantity gets mitigated by its questionable long-term quality. Beyond future captain Aaron Judge, they have Aaron Hicks in his walk year; Stanton, who at age 29 already is best as a designated hitter; Brett Gardner, best as a reserve; the eternally injured Jacoby Ellsbury; and Clint Frazier, whose two concussions from 2018 sadly put his viability in question. Why not pair Harper with Judge as corner-outfield cornerstones? Shoot, they can even re-sign Hicks and field a great young trio together.





3. Profile. Harper has been preparing for this moment since he was 16, when he entered junior college to make himself eligible for the 2010 amateur draft. He knows what it’s like to have haters, to be subject to extreme scrutiny. In short, he grasps the pros and cons that come with being a star. That doesn’t make him perfect. It does make him ready for what life in The Bronx would be like for him.

Is Machado ready? His platform moment in his platform year, qualifying for the World Series with the Dodgers, generated more questions than answers, putting Machado at least partly on the defensive during his free-agency tour.

How about the Yankees sign either Daniel Murphy to play second base or Freddy Galvis to play shortstop and play Torres at the other, bulk up their bullpen and call it a day? I can’t blame them if they want to act more aggressively than that. We can question them, though, if they don’t deploy that aggressiveness optimally. Signing Machado, from here, looks like the wrong execution of a big buy.





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