Yankees: Clint Frazier has perfect response about being involved in trade talks
Yankees OF Clint Frazier responded to what might happen at the trade deadline.
The MLB trade deadline is rapidly approaching, and the consensus rumors suggest the New York Yankees will be in the market for both starting rotation and bullpen reinforcements. It goes without saying that the club is loaded with the assets required to get a deal done, but no player has had more experience dealing with the noise than Clint Frazier.
The difference between this season and years past, however, is that the Yankees need Frazier in the lineup every day. The likes of Giancarlo Stanton, DJ LeMahieu and Gleyber Torres all remain on the injured list. On top of that, Aaron Judge, who returned from his 10-day stint this week, was pulled from the second game of Wednesday’s doubleheader with calf tightness and could be headed back to the shelf.
Frazier has emerged as a consistent source of production during an otherwise dark time for the club, which is currently in the midst of a five-game losing streak. Fans in the Bronx need any reason to smile and the 25-year-old slugger’s response to his annual involvement in trade discussions will surely do the trick.
“I feel like it wouldn’t be a trade deadline unless my name was getting tossed around,” Frazier told reporters on Wednesday. “I feel like I can’t even remember the last trade deadline when my name wasn’t mentioned. But I’m still here.”
The former No. 5 overall pick added that he’s thrilled with how much playing time he’s been getting of late and that his job is to just go out there and compete, regardless of the circumstances.
“In the end, I just want to play. I just want to play baseball and get a chance to go out there and play every single day. I’m just looking at it as whatever happens, happens. I’ve mentioned earlier I’m done trying to play GM, but obviously it’s not a bad thing if my name is getting mentioned in there because maybe it shows interest of other teams possibly wanting to acquire me,” he continued.
We honestly couldn’t have scripted a better response from Frazier, who’s showing that his maturity has taken significant strides in the past year. The young outfielder has endured a bit of a slump since starting the campaign 7-for-11 with five extra-base hits, but these quotes confirm that his struggles have nothing to do with the fact that his name is back on the trade market.
Much like Yankees fans during this five-game skid, Frazier is rolling with the punches. Let’s hope the club keeps giving him opportunities to prove that he belongs in the lineup when its stars return from injury.