As Bryce Harper‘s free agency slowly trudges along, New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge was asked about what it might take to bring the left-handed hitter — who plays the same position as Judge — to the Bronx.
Blitzed by TMZ Sports in a brief red-carpet interview this week, Judge noted that any time a team can add a player of Harper’s caliber, it “is going to make them better.” Harper, 26, is a six-time All-Star and former National League MVP.
The Yankees, fresh off an American League Division Series loss to the eventual World Series champion Boston Red Sox, have been rumored at times this offseason to be trying to pursue either Harper or Manny Machado. Although Yankees general manager Brian Cashman refuted such rumored interest in Harper during the Winter Meetings in December, he and other team officials did meet with Machado late that month.
The odds at this late offseason date are not high that either player ends up with the Yankees.
During the TMZ interview, Judge was asked who — between him and Harper — would move from right field to center field in the event New York was able to sign the former Washington Nationals right fielder and add him to an already-crowded outfield.
“He’s got more speed than me, man,” Judge said, smiling. “Wherever he wants to play. We’ll make it work.”
With respect to the interviewer’s question, neither of the two players would be likely to move to center. After all, Aaron Hicks, who is coming off the best year of his career following a 27-homer, 79-RBI campaign, is expected to remain the Yankees’ starter at the position in 2019. As for left field, 35-year-old Brett Gardner enters spring training as the incumbent at that position, with Clint Frazier and Jacoby Ellsbury returning from injuries to compete for playing time there, too.
Giancarlo Stanton also factors into the Yankees’ outfield plans. The team’s primary designated hitter, he also spent 37 games playing right field last season. Many of those chances came after Judge suffered a wrist injury that sidelined him about two months.
As for Judge’s message through TMZ to Harper, Machado and other remaining free agents?
“I got nothing,” Judge said. “Make the right choice. Wherever they want to go. Make it the right choice for your family.”