Yankees in tough situation with Clint Frazier

The Yankees are in an odd, but potentially good situation with Clint Frazier, as he is going to be a focal point for the next six weeks leading up to the July 31st trade deadline.

The good part of the story is the Yankees are very talented and deep that they don’t have room for Ronald Torreyes, Brandon Drury, Tyler Austin, and Clint Frazier; four players that would certainly be getting plenty of playing time elsewhere in the big leagues.

The bad news is the Yanks are in desperate need of starting pitching and that for any trade to happen, the untapped source of talent that is Frazier, is going to be the shiniest piece of a trade. Especially after GM Brian Cashman said, rookie sensations Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar are off the table.

Frazier has been a call-up player mostly when the Yankees are playing a double-header or having a tough stretch of games to give the Yanks some depth off the bench or starters a day off for rest.

That’s not fair to a prospect that has gotten high praise for his quick, powerful and phenomenal swing. The Yankees, though, may look at it as a great piece to move since they may get a proven starter in the process.

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The club doesn’t exactly have the need for another right-handed hitter, having five everyday hitters — Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Gary Sanchez, Andujar and Torres — already inserted into the lineup. There’s also a sixth when facing a lefty due to the switch-hitting prowess of Aaron Hicks.

Hicks, too, is a project that Cashman and the Yankees refuse to give up on due to the plus-side of his defensive play and arm while being a switch-hitter. He has also caught on a lot more recently at the plate, sparing Cashman and manager Aaron Boone of having to explain why he’s getting more playing time while Frazier continues to dominate at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Gardner, too, has turned things around offensively after a horrid start to the season. He’s the longest-tenured Yankee and plays by example when always running hard to first and playing solid outfield defense. Batting from the left side is also a plus as team’s attempt to balance out a lineup and make it tougher for opposing pitching staffs.

That leaves Frazier — the focal point of the Andrew Miller trade to Cleveland in 2016 as the odd-man out. Fans want to see what he can do for the young and exciting Yankees, but they also understand if they are to compete with the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox come October, they need someone to join Luis Severino in a banged up rotation to stand any chance of getting to the World Series.

Frazier, along with Drury, has expressed frustration in having the majority of their playing time in Triple-A.

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So that leaves the Yankees’ front office with one big question: Are they willing to part ways with a talented player that they got in turn for one of the best relievers in the last five years and make that big trade seem useless (at least until Justus Sheffield shows up to the Bronx)?