Yankees Rumors: Another Frazier headed to the Bronx?

Following a weekend split with the Red Sox, it appears the Yankees may now battle it out with their long-time rival for the services of White Sox slugger Todd Frazier.

Following reports that the first place Red Sox were closing in on a deal to acquire two-time All-Star Todd Frazier, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said not so fast!

OK, so Cashman didn’t actually say that, but according to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, the Bombers had scouts in Chicago over the weekend to gauge whether or not trading for Frazier and/or teammate David Robertson is indeed a viable option.

The Yankees will need to address first base, which has been a black hole, and it’s not clear whether they could consider Frazier as an option there (though there may be better choices for that position, anyway). Regardless, the Yankees’ biggest area of interest seems to be the pitching staff, and as a rival said, they do love Robertson, and “always have.

By now we all know the story of Frazier, the Toms River, NJ native who grew up a Yankees fan, and even stood next to the great Derek Jeter in a pregame ceremony back in 1998 after Frazier’s Little League team won their respective World Series.

Frazier, now 31, picked the wrong time to have a down year as he’ll enter free agency after this season.

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Following career highs in both home runs (40) and RBI (98) in 2016, ‘The Todd Father’ has barely managed to stay above The Mendoza Line (.207 BA). Still, his 16 home runs and 41 RBI in 81 contests put each and every corner infielder the Yankees have used this season to shame.

Having played 94 career games at first base (four this season) Frazier would be a major upgrade for a club that is dying a slow death at the position. While I’m sure there will be a certain faction of fans who won’t like the idea of Frazier at first, I remind you that he’ll cost a whole heck of a lot less than other trade candidates such as Justin Bour, Lucas Duda and Yonder Alonso.

While Frazier may not provide the left-handed stick that the others do — he comes with much more position flexibility (third base, first base and corner outfield in a pinch).

As I said, Frazier is set to enter free agency in a few months time — should his bat come alive the way it did from 2014-2016, the Yankees could steal a solid insurance policy for any number of position heading into the 2018 season — even DH, should Matt Holliday not return.

Back to the current campaign. I’m not advocating Frazier take over for Chase Headley who is putting the bat on the ball better since June, rather employing Frazier gives manager Joe Girardi options around the diamond.

Having recently designated the hugely expensive contract of Pablo Sandoval, the Yanks will need to act fast if they wish to beat the Sox to his services.

Whether or not this is a ploy by the Bombers to price the Red Sox out of Frazier remains to be seen.

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Clearly, Frazier needs a change of scenery. Playing close to home could be just the jolt to get his career back on track and boost the Yankees’ chances of making the Postseason.