Yanks Go Yard
FanSided

Yankees: 5 players who could be traded this offseason

By Mac Josephson

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 21: Clint Frazier #77 of the New York Yankees looks on after hitting a three-run home run during the fifth inning of the game against the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium on April 21, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 21: Clint Frazier #77 of the New York Yankees looks on after hitting a three-run home run during the fifth inning of the game against the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium on April 21, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
Yankees
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JUNE 16: Clint Frazier #77 of the New York Yankees at bat during the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on June 16, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images) /

OF Clint Frazier

Frazier seems like the Yankee who is most likely to be traded this offseason for a couple of reasons. The first is there isn’t a spot for him to start next year in the Yankees outfield and there likely won’t be in the seasons that follow. Even though Brett Gardner and Cameron Maybin are both going to be free agents and might not return in 2020 the Yanks still have four outfielders on the 40-man roster who are going to play over Frazier if they’re healthy. That’s Aaron Judge, Aaron Hicks, Giancarlo Stanton and Mike Tauchman.

I’m not even including the versatile Tyler Wade who has already proven to be a better defensive outfielder than Frazier is despite limited reps. Coming into the 2019 season I thought there was a chance Frazier would eventually take over for Gardner as the Yankees starting left fielder, but that didn’t happen after the veteran had a very solid season and Frazier struggled mightily defensively.

Frazier’s defense (and his attitude) was the main reason why he was sent down in June and wasn’t called back up until rosters expanded in September. The Yankees had multiple opportunities in the months that followed to call him back up from Scranton to fill in for an injured outfielder but opted against it.

Before being sent down his offensive production was very good but his trade value has definitely taken a hit because of his struggles with the glove. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t teams out there who would be interested in acquiring him. His bat is legit and if he’s given a chance to play every day over the course of a full season he could be a middle of the lineup force for years to come.

It’s hard to say what the Yankees could get for Frazier but my guess is they would be open to dealing him for bullpen help. Frazier is no longer the top prospect he once was so I don’t think he could be the centerpiece of an offer for a front line starting pitcher but he could bring back the Yankees a solid high leverage reliever as the headliner of a potential package.

Home/Yankees News