:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63162779/1133239584.jpg.0.jpg)
New York Daily News | Bill Madden: Here a national writer instructs fans to “be grateful” that the Yankees weren’t “suckers” for Bryce Harper. He points to Harper’s 2018 campaign, when he hit .249 with more strikeouts than hits. Madden also reminds us that the newly-minted $330 million man failed to lead the Washington Nationals to the World Series in seven years. The Daily News scribe does acknowledge, however, that “Harper will thrive in the Phillies’ bandbox Citizens Bank Park,” while failing to mention that the former MVP is already a hit at the box office:
Before the Bryce Harper news broke yesterday, the #Phillies had sold roughly 200,000 more tickets than at this same point last year. They have sold about 100,000 tickets since, #Phillies senior VP of ticket operations John Weber said. Hard to say, but it might be a 1-day record.
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) March 1, 2019
Northjersey.com | Pete Caldera: Danny Farquhar made an emotional return to a big-league mound with the Yankees. The right-hander recorded a single out in Saturday’s Grapefruit League game exactly 316 days after his life-threatening moment in Chicago, and departed his first spring training appearance of 2019 to high-fives from his teammates.
New York Post | George A. King III: CC Sabathia had a ‘good day’ in his first extended work session since his heart procedure. He threw 16 pitches off the bullpen mound Friday, and is slated for another session today. “Another good step for him, threw the ball fine,” manager Aaron Boone said. “He worked on his cutter, two-seamer, changeup. All in all, a good day for him.” Sabathia might throw batting practice later in the week.
NJ.com | Brendan Kuty: Tommy Kahnle might be back. The right-hander struck out three batters on nine pitches in his first inning of work this spring during Friday’s game. “Really exciting,” Boone said of Kahnle’s performance. “That’s the best I’ve seen him throw since I’ve been here.”
The Athletic | Lindsey Adler: Finally, Adler gets reactions from Yankees players to Harper’s deal, as well as the current state of MLB free agency in general. Although The Athletic has a paywall, you get three free articles per month if you download their mobile app. It’s well worth the time it takes to do that.