Yankees Rumors: Should they trade Clint Frazier for Robbie Ray?

Robbie Ray is still a Diamondback for now but by tomorrow’s 4 pm trade deadline there’s a chance he could switch clubhouses and become a member of the Yankees.

After the Yankees missed out on acquiring former Blue Jays ace Marcus Stroman the team has turned their attention to the Arizona southpaw, according to multiple reports. Right now Ray is one of the best starters out there who is likely to be traded since his D’Backs are now a game under .500% and four games out of the second NL Wild Card spot.

Trevor Bauer and Madison Bumgarner are two names the Yankees would love to acquire but both of their respective clubs are in better playoff position and don’t seem likely to sell at the moment. Rays isn’t a bad fallback option for the Yanks to pursue, but he’s not an ace by any means and they shouldn’t overpay too much to get him.

According to Hall of Fame journalist Peter Gammons of the MLB Network, he continues to hear that the Yanks might offer OF Clint Frazier in a package for Ray.

Gammons notes that Archie Bradley could also be included in the package going back to New York which makes sense because the Yanks are looking for some relief help as well. However, he’s taken a big step back this season and wouldn’t really make the Yankee pen any better than it already is.

Ray would certainly make the struggling Yankees rotation better but if the cost to get him is Frazier I don’t know if he’s worth it. Frazier is more expendable than ever right now because there’s not a spot for him in the Yankees big league lineup and their might not be next year either. However, he’s still an extremely promising young hitter who has a chance to be a middle of the order force for years to come.

Even though his defense obviously needs to improve a player of his caliber should bring the Yankees back someone better than Ray, especially if he’s not the only player offered in a potential package. He’d be the perfect headliner to offer Cleveland for Trevor Bauer, but in a deal for Ray, not so much.

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Ray has had a solid season so far pitching to a 3.91 ERA with an impressive 173 K’s but he also allows far too many walks and home runs. Per James Smyth of the YES Network, Ray has the 36th worst BB% (10.6) among 39 qualified starters in the NL and the 37th worst HR per 9 rate (1.60). He’s on track to finish the season with 88 walks and to allow 35 home runs.

This season we’ve seen two Yankee left-handers in J.A. Happ and James Paxton combine to allow 40 HR while pitching half their games at Yankee Stadium. Bringing in another southpaw like Ray who’s prone to giving up even more home runs could be a recipe for disaster.

That being said, after the brutal road trip the Yankee rotation just had the team is clearly in desperate need of another starter before tomorrow’s trade deadline. They can’t afford to come up empty-handed so they might show just how desperate they are and trade Frazier for Ray and Bradley.

If it happens that decision might come back to haunt them so hopefully, GM Brian Cashman can work his magic and acquire Ray without having to give up one of their top trade assets in Frazier.