Yankees Should Trade for Todd Frazier

The New York Yankees would be wise to continue reshaping their roster by acquiring controllable All-Stars who can ease the maturation process for their young up-and-coming prospects.

Five out of six. That’s how many wins the Yankees have recently strung together to move within 6 1/2 games of first place in the American League East. As far as one of two Wild Card spots are concerned, the Yankees all of a sudden find themselves a manageable 3 1/2 games out.

So I have an idea; instead of shipping out your most valuable assets (Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller, Carlos Beltran), why not keep them in the fold? Go out and scour the trade market for controllable players on the cusp of doing big things, or what would really be exciting, All-Star type players who currently play for miserable teams.

Look no further than the 46-49, 4th place Chicago White Sox. No, I’m not about to trade the farm for the likes of Chris Sale, although I would love to see the lanky left-hander in pinstripes.

The name I would like to implore the Yankees to acquire is a 30-year-old, two-time All-Star who consistently hits for power, and just so happens to hail from Toms River, NJ. That man is Todd Frazier.

Frazier is having another monster season, minus his .217 BA and 92 strikeouts. In 93 games, he’s belted 28 home runs, 64 RBI, and has an OPS of .789.

Current Yankees third baseman Chase Headley is batting .251, 9 HR, 30 RBI, and an OPS of .715. Not only is Headley already 32 years of age, but he’s owed $13 million in each year through 2018. That’s a lot of cash for a guy who hasn’t gotten anywhere near the numbers from his career year of 2012 when he batted .286 with 31 homers and 115 RBI.

Frazier, on the other hand, is making $8.25 million in 2016 before becoming arbitration eligible this winter. Obviously, that number will jump, probably to somewhere around $15 million per season. But when compared to that of Headley’s salary, it’s a steal!

As for what to do with Headley; some downtrodden team like the Oakland A’s, San Diego Padres (again), or Atlanta Braves would be willing to acquire him if the Yankees were to eat a good sized portion of his remaining salary.

There are also good teams who could use an average third baseman because of injuries to their own (Kansas City Royals, Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Cardinals), which wouldn’t require the Yankees to swallow as much cash.

Regardless, Headley’s days as the Yankees’ starting third baseman need to come to a swift end, sooner rather than later.

Now it was only last December that saw the White Sox trade three of their top ten minor league players (Frankie Montas, Micah Johnson, and Trayce Thompson) in a three-team deal with the Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Dodgers, for the right to deploy Frazier.

At the time, the trade seemed like a win for the ‘Pale Hose,’ as they must have felt they were only a power bat behind Jose Abreu in the lineup away from contending. Seven months later and a lot has changed, as sources around the club say that General Manager Rick Hahn will listen to legitimate trade offers for the likes of Sale, David Robertson, Melky Cabrera, and Brett Lawrie.

Unfortunately for the White Sox, if they were to trade their relatively new addition (Frazier), they simply won’t receive the type of assets they dealt away. Clubs know that Frazier is all but certain to test the choppy waters of free agency after next season, so while he’s cost effective for 2017, it could be a very different story come 12 months later. Unless of course, he was to suit up for his favorite childhood team. If you don’t know the story about Frazier and

Unless of course, he was to suit up for his favorite childhood team. If you don’t know the story about Frazier and Derek Jeter by now, here.

So what do the Yankees have to trade that won’t drain the farm system, and at the same time entice the beleaguered White Sox?

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The only top 10 Yankees prospect I would be willing (though reluctantly) to deal is Gary Sanchez, who is currently ranked NO. 3 by MLB.com. Besides, we’ve already heard that the White Sox inquired about Sanchez’s availability only a few weeks ago, so there is keen curiosity about the 23-year-old catcher already in the making.

The fact of the matter is that it’s still unknown whether or not Sanchez can become an everyday big league catcher. While he has shown signs of defensive promise this season at Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre (five errors for a .990 Fld%), it’s still only Triple-A.

While Sanchez has shown solid pop down on the farm in 2016, batting .282 with 10 home runs and 44 RBI, he didn’t do much in the vein of instilling confidence after his short-lived promotion against Sale and those While Sox back in May, when he went 0-4.

As for those of you clamoring for the Yankees to dump current backstop Brian McCann, save your breath. McCann may be 32-years-old, but he’s still owed $51 million through 2019. And even though he’s now been a big league catcher for the better part of 12 seasons, McCann still controls a pitching staff better than most major league signal callers ever could.

Of the Yankees’ 2016 Top 30 Prospects, there are actually two other catchers besides Sanchez that are listed; NO. 11 Luis Torrens, and NO. 27 Donny Sands, who also plays third base.

Though Torrens doesn’t quite have the offensive ceiling as that of Sanchez, he’s already viewed as a far superior defender; one with a plus arm that has already seen him erase 41% of baserunners in his first two professional seasons. He’s not that much of a slouch with the bat either, as scouts predict he could hit around 15 home runs per season because of a keen batting eye and an ability to hit to all fields.

Another potential trade chip could be 21-year-old third baseman, Miguel Andujar (NO. 14 prospect). A quick stick and above average power from a kid who needs to put on muscle in a hurry are good signs of things to come. Throw in his super arm, soft hands, and plus range, and it makes sense that the White Sox would ask for a talented albeit raw infielder in return.

Again, of the Yankees Top 30 prospects, Andujar joins Sands and the NO. 30 prospect, Nelson Gomez, as third basemen to watch. Lastly, I’d finish off the deal by offering up the NO. 12 prospect, outfielder Ben Gamel.

While Gamel has made strides this year at Triple-A, batting .302 with 4 home runs and 32 RBI, the Yankees currently have more than enough ‘Punch and Judy’ type outfielders. Besides, Gamel is already 24-years-old, the same age as Aaron Judge, and we all know by now that Judge is getting the first (and hopefully last) opportunity to replace Carlos Beltran in 2017.

Acquiring a perennial All-Star like Frazier, while he’ still 30-years-old, about to enter his absolute baseball prime allows the Yankees to plug in some of their other minor league talent without worrying about becoming irrelevant; something they’ve been remiss to do with Sanchez and Judge up to this point.

Next: Puig in Pinstripes?

Frazier’s powerful right handed bat, as well as astute baseball acumen, are two things this club desperately needs. So please Brian Cashman, don’t wait until 2018 when Frazier will already be 32-years-old. Grab him now, while the White Sox are desperate, and your club is poised to continue their climb up the standings.

The New York Yankees would be wise to continue reshaping their roster by acquiring controllable All-Stars who can ease the maturation process for their young up-and-coming prospects.

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