This season one Yankee goal was to finally get under the MLB luxury tax. The idea being free up not only financial space, but to free up the finances for this specific rich offseason of talent and not face harsh penalties like we continuously have. Names like Manny Machado, Bryce Harper, Patrick Corbin all jump off the page and have all been connected with the Yankees since mid-summer or before. Even more so, opportunities for bullpen reunions with not only Zach Britton but Andrew Miller is possible as well. A return of no runs dmc would be very welcomed come April in the Bronx.
The bullpen was a big strength in the playoffs and arguably our strongest area when comparing the lineup and starting pitching playoff performances. Unfortunately we have to deal with the departure of two of our main bullpen pieces being David Robertson and Zach Britton. Starting pitchers Sabathia, Happ, Lynn, might have seen their final pitches as Yankees. For the lineup we are hoping Didi Gregorius is back latest by August and late season regular lead-off hitter Andrew McCutchen is gone. One thing people have been bringing up and very well should mention, the lineup during the playoffs felt right-handed heavy and that is now a bigger concern with Didi Gregorius being gone for such a long time.
What we are obviously in need of and desperately calling for is a left-handed hitter. Bryce Harper is left-handed, check. Middle of the order bat like Gregorius, check. Looks like a perfect Yankee match so far. Thinking about a Yankee lineup with Harper seems pretty simple because you know he fits perfectly behind Judge and would allow for switch hitting Hicks to lead-off. Two left-handed hitters and a switch hitter in Aaron Hicks wouldn’t be the most balanced in the league but it’s a lot better than what we currently have.
Bryce Harper Lineup:
Aaron Hicks CF
Aaron Judge RF
Bryce Harper LF
Giancarlo Stanton DH
Luke Voit 1B
Miguel Andújar 3B
Tyler Wade* 2B
I strongly believe if the Yankees get Harper their focus right after will be to sign a left-handed or switch-hitting infielder, so don’t take Tyler Wades spot in the lineup to seriously. Acquiring someone like Jed Lowrie or Neil Walker would easily move Miguel Andujar and Gleyber Torres down a spot to once again give us one of the most dangerous lineups 1-9. When Gregorious comes back I expect it to looks something like this.
Aaron Hicks CF
Aaron Judge RF
Bryce Harper LF
Giancarlo Stanton DH
Didi Gregorius SS
Luke Voit 1B
Miguel Andújar 3B
We saw Miguel Andujar this post-season benched because of his defensive liabilities and to further balance out the lower half of the lineup. Something that can occur next year as well but so far this is how I would put out a lineup to utilize my best offensive players. Let me know if you feel like Bryce Harper would be a good fit to our team or feel the price tag is just to much to when this lineup has slugging potential already. Meaning we could use any other left-handed or switch hitter, doesn’t have to be Harper.