New York Yankees urged to make smart move to one day land Bryce Harper originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New York Yankees have been loosely linked to Bryce Harper in the past, but everything seems a bit unlikely due to Harper being on a very good Philadelphia Phillies team.

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However, Pinstripes Nation’s Esteban QuiƱones suggested the Yankees could take a step in the right direction with Harper by signing his longtime friend and former teammate Rhys Hoskins.

ā€œThe idea is subtle but deliberate,ā€ QuiƱones wrote. ā€œHoskins is 33 years old and recently signed a minor-league deal with Cleveland Guardians. Given that the Yankees just extended a 38-year-old in Paul Goldschmidt, Hoskins’ age is not at all unreasonable. He brings right-handed power, postseason experience and, crucially, a close friendship with Harper.ā€

Hoskins and Harper developed a strong relationship during their time together with the Phillies, and both swung the bat at a very high level before Hoskins dealt with a brutal knee injury.

While the suggestion is far more unlikely than it might be for some Yankees fans who want to wish for it, the idea is that bringing in a respected veteran like Hoskins could make New York a more appealing destination for Harper down the line.

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Of course, Harper remains under contract with Philadelphia, meaning any move involving him would require major changes down the road.

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