Yankees are using Clint Frazier as trade bait for another starter or reliever

According to reports the Yankees are using OF Clint Frazier as trade bait in an attempt to upgrade their pitching staff before Wednesday’s July 31st deadline. It’s no surprise that Frazier is on the block, especially after the Yanks opted to leave him at Triple-A Scranton instead of calling him up to replace the injured Brett Gardner on the roster.

The Yankees starting pitching staff has been an absolute trainwreck over the last seven games posting an ERA of 15.61. They’re in desperate need of another front of the rotation type starter but right now there aren’t many available.

Outside of Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman and Rangers left-hander Mike Minor, it’s unclear which starters are actually on the block because a lot of teams are still undecided on whether to buy or sell before the deadline. Trevor Bauer and Madison Bumgarner are two guys I’m sure the Yanks would love to acquire but their teams are each in contention for a playoff spot so the odds of them being traded decreases with each passing day.

That’s why according to Jeff Passan of ESPN the Yankees might look to add to their bullpen which is already one of the best in baseball. To make that happen, they could use one of their top assets in Frazier to get a deal done.

Ever since Frazier was sent down back on June 16th there’s been a ton of speculation about the Yankees potentially trading him for another starter. Passan’s report confirms that but it’s interesting to see that he could also be used to add another reliever.

There are definitely some solid relievers out there who could be on the move in the coming days but I don’t think any of them are worth giving up Frazier for. Shane Greene of the Tigers or Alex Colome of the White Sox would each be a solid addition to the pen but the Yanks could probably acquire either one of them without giving up Frazier. Unless Pittsburgh is open to dealing their All-Star closer, Felipe Vasquez I’m not dealing him to acquire another reliever if I’m Brian Cashman.

I think there’s still a really good chance Frazier is dealt next week, just not for a reliever. If the Yanks are going to trade him at all it should be for an impact starter like Marcus Stroman. The Blue Jays have reportedly asked for Gleyber Torres and Deivi Garcia in return for Stroman but that’s just not going to happen so a deal headlined by Frazier wouldn’t be a bad fallback option to pursue. The Yanks could also include one of their other top pitching prospects like Albert Abreu or Jonathan Loaisiga to get a deal done.

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We all know Frazier’s defense needs to improve but he would be a great addition to any team’s lineup. Let’s not forget how productive he was offensively before he was optioned back to Scranton.

He hit .283 with 11 HR, 34 RBI, and a .513 SLG%. Those numbers are legit and if given the opportunity to play every day over the course of a full season they’d be even better. Frazier’s not going to get that chance with the Yankees at least for the rest of this season which is why he’s now more expendable than ever.

I’m not saying the Yanks should give him up just because they don’t have a spot for him on the big league club. However, they shouldn’t hesitate to do so for a front line starter who can make an immediate impact and help them win a championship this October.