Yankees: 4 players Brian Cashman could sell at the trade deadline

New York Yankees fans, we regret to inform you that the outlook on the 2021 MLB season continues to look more and more grim. We have no answers.

We have no idea what general manager Brian Cashman might do to fix this. If the organization is not exceeding the luxury tax threshold, quite frankly, there’s not much he can do. What he can do, however, is switch gears if this dismal play continues.

The Yankees are losers of four straight and were just swept in the Bronx by the Boston Red Sox for the first time in a decade. Point blank, this is rock bottom for the Yankees, which is a much better scenario than most teams since New York is still 31-29 and only 6.5 games out of first place in the AL East. There’s time to turn it around.

On the flip side, what has indicated that this team will do so? Everything remains suboptimal, with the exception of the pitching, though now that once unstoppable aspect of the roster is showing cracks. There’s not much more room for error, but all we’ve seen are errors.

In this week’s edition of doomsday Yankees content, let’s assume the Bombers are hovering around .500 by the trade deadline while the Rays and Red Sox have opened up a large lead in the division.

If that’s the case, do the Yankees sell? If this hasn’t been working for four years now, why assume it’ll work for a fifth in 2022? This sounds insane, but changes do need to be made, and the earlier, the better. Admit the faults, address the voids, move on, hope for better times.

In the event Cashman does a 180, let’s consider a completely unexpected scenario come July 31.

4 players the Yankees could sell and get value for before the trade deadline

4. Clint Frazier

We hate to break it to you, but Clint Frazier‘s value was never really that high. Ever wonder why the Pirates didn’t accept the rumored trade package headlined by him in a potential deal for Gerrit Cole? It’s because he was never highly valued, and for good reason.

Frazier’s been all potential for five years now. Injuries and disastrous defensive shortcomings have held him back. His bat is intriguing, but it’s just not good enough to make everything else go away. In 212 career games with the Yankees since coming over in the Andrew Miller trade, Frazier is slashing .241/.325/.440 and has been good for a -2.3 dWAR.

However, the Yankees were never going to get much for him, and the fact they no longer really need him should simply be enough for them to cut ties. The organization has a formidable scouting department who can pluck a promising low-level prospect out of the bunch when talking hypothetical trade scenarios involving Frazier.

He’s under club control through 2024. That inherently carries value. He’s certainly not going to be a member of the next great Yankees team. What’s the alternative? Have him continue underproducing? His defense has at least improved and the potential with his bat remains. Someone will take a chance.

And the Yankees could get something and perhaps start using more of Miguel Andújar or Estevan Florial.