Yankees: Three players who could still be traded before Opening Day

The Yankees will be considered World Series favorites heading into next season whether they make another move or not to improve their roster before the offseason ends. However, that doesn’t mean another move isn’t coming, specifically a trade considering all the rumors that are still floating around.

Across the board, in every area, the Yankees roster looks pretty set heading into the 2020 season. They’re as deep a team as there is in the majors and the clear cut favorites to win it all for what seems like the first time in a very long time.

There really isn’t anything else this Yankee team needs to help them reach their sky-high expectations but GM Brian Cashman is always looking at ways to improve his club. It’s doubtful we’ll see any more big blockbuster moves this offseason, but I still don’t think he’s done building this roster so I’d expect another move to be made before we reach Spring Training.

The free-agent market doesn’t have much to offer the Yanks anymore at this point in the winter so a trade seems more likely. Because the roster doesn’t really have any more pressing needs to take care of a potential trade could be made just to clear up cap space or to open up a spot on the 40-man roster to make the Brett Gardner signing official.

Or I could be totally wrong and Cashman could shock all of us and go for the jugular by acquiring someone like Brewers relief ace Josh Hader. Either way, I don’t think he’s done making moves which is why I think one of these three Yankees could be dealt before the offseason comes to an end.

OF Clint Frazier

I believe Frazier is much more likely to be traded at some point during the regular season but it’s possible the Yankees could still deal him this offseason. Like Happ, Frazier has become very expendable because of all the depth at his position and entering 2020 it’s hard to see where he fits into the mix on the big league roster.

If the season started today Frazier would likely begin the year at Triple-A Scranton and Mike Tachman would get the nod as the team’s fourth outfielder. Frazier proved again last season that he has a lot of potential offensively but his defense was a disaster and I don’t know if the Yankees will ever have enough trust in him to play the outfield on a consistent basis.

Hopefully, he’s used the time off this offseason to improve his defense and that he’ll continue to do so this spring but even if he does I still don’t think it will be enough to earn him a spot on the 26-man roster. It’s a tough situation for Frazier because his bat is big-league ready and he deserves to be on a major league roster but I just don’t know if he’ll ever get that opportunity again in a Yankee uniform.

That’s why a trade at some point still seems like the most likely outcome. What the Yankees could get for him is tough to predict because his value has taken a hit due to his regression on defense. Although his ceiling offensively is still high so maybe there’s an interested team out there who could offer the Yanks a nice bullpen piece in return.

3B Miguel Andujar

Andujar is the player on this list who I think is least likely to be traded and the one who I hope doesn’t get traded the most. However, his name continues to be thrown around on the rumor mill and has been for the past two offseasons.

Miggy is more expendable after the breakout performance by Gio Urshela in his absence last season and because the Yankee infield is filled with depth across the diamond. Even after the departure of Didi Gregorius. What role he’ll play next season remains to be seen but as long as he’s on the roster it figures to be an important one. Like Frazier, Miggy has struggled defensively in his young big league career, but at the plate, he’s been a true force when healthy.

It’s easy to see why there are so many teams interested in acquiring him after the rookie season he had in 2018 when he hit .297 with 27 HR, 92 RBI and set the Yankee rookie record for doubles with 47. I don’t think anyone really believes that performance was a fluke and now that he’s recovered from the labrum tear expectations are high entering 2020.

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This spring Miggy will likely enter camp behind Gio on the third base depth chart and will have a hard time beating him out for the starting job. Other teams know that which is one of the reasons why the Yanks and GM Brian Cashman have received so many calls asking about his availability this offseason.

Most recently his name has come up in the Josh Hader talks last month and according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, the Yankees could offer a package including him. We haven’t seen much more information on a potential trade for Hader of late so maybe the talks have cooled down, but it’s something to keep an eye on over the next month.

I still don’t see it happening because the Yankees really don’t need Hader with the bullpen they already have and it would take more than just Miggy to get a deal done. Deivi Garcia, their top prospect would also likely have to be included and maybe Frazier as well.

I’m sure it’s a tempting trade for Cashman and company to consider but the price is going to be too high and the Yanks are going to need Miggy in the lineup next year to reach their full potential. He’s too good of a hitter to sell low on and deal now coming off an injury-plagued year.

Plus, whether it’s at third base, DH or even first base there are going to be ways to get him consistent at-bats next season so as long as he can stay healthy he should have another great year.