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

By Thomas Carannante |
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 21: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Gio Urshela #29 and Aroldis Chapman #54 of the New York Yankees react after a ninth inning triple play against the Chicago White Sox at Yankee Stadium on May 21, 2021 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the White Sox 2-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 21: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Gio Urshela #29 and Aroldis Chapman #54 of the New York Yankees react after a ninth inning triple play against the Chicago White Sox at Yankee Stadium on May 21, 2021 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the White Sox 2-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
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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

Clint Frazier #77 of the New York Yankees (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
Clint Frazier #77 of the New York Yankees (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

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.

Zack Britton #53 of the New York Yankees (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Zack Britton #53 of the New York Yankees (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

3. Zack Britton

If your offense isn’t producing, you can’t win close games, and those in high-leverage situations continue to drop the ball, then what’s the sense in carrying an elite bullpen?

The first aspect of any non-contender roster that should go are a team’s cast of relievers, especially if they have high-priced ones. And the Yankees have a few, one of whom is Zack Britton.

Britton has yet to step on the mound in a regular season game this year due to offseason elbow surgery, but he’s expected back soon. If he can perform well for the next month and a half, why wouldn’t a contender looking for a closer seek out his services? He’s making $13 million this year and $14 million in 2022, which isn’t bad for what he brings to the table when healthy.

He owns a 2.14 ERA and 1.12 WHIP with 90 strikeouts across 105.1 innings for the Yankees over the last two-ish years. He induces a ton of ground balls. He’s got a 3.13 postseason ERA across 21 games. You’ve seen the demand for relievers over the last five years or so. Guys who are simply having a good half-season despite their numbers from previous years are going for top dollar.

Britton has a tremendous career track record, can be a setup man or a closer, and will just need to stay the course upon returning to help the Yankees acquire a haul. The San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers sure could use some bullpen help. There’s simply no need for the Yankees to pay top-dollar to the game’s best relievers if they’re not going to contend.

Gio Urshela #29 of the New York Yankees (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Gio Urshela #29 of the New York Yankees (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

2. Gio Urshela

Look, we don’t want this to happen either. But if the Yankees want value, this is their best bet. Don’t kill the messenger, please.

Gio Urshela has been one of the most consistent Yankees since his arrival in 2019. However, the team’s plan was to keep him under club control through the 2023 season at a cost-effective price as their other big guns raked in the higher salaries. Hopefully, that would have resulted in a World Series.

But again, if the experiment isn’t working, and you’re not trading DJ LeMahieu, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Hicks, Luke Voit or Gary Sánchez — all of whom are untradeable at the moment with the exception of Judge, who figures to possibly be the “face” of the franchise — why not send Urshela to a contender, let him actually enjoy himself, and acquire some top prospects or legitimate major league talent along the way?

You know what else this could do? It could move Gleyber Torres off shortstop. Shift LeMahieu to third, Gleyber back to second, keep Voit at first once he returns, and find yourself a stopgap option at short while you either prepare for someone rising in the ranks to take over or go after one of the top options in free agency when the offseason arrives. That’ll prevent LeMahieu from constantly bouncing all over the infield and would return Torres to his primary position of strength (the Yankees believe that too, not just us!).

It’s truly sad to think about because of all Gio has done as a player and role model, but the Yankees aren’t paying him once he hits free agency and he’ll be 30 in October. Urshela was an unexpected big part of this plan, but with everything else falling apart at the seams, the Yankees have a good opportunity to maximize his value should they continue to falter.

Aroldis Chapman #54 of the New York Yankees (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Aroldis Chapman #54 of the New York Yankees (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

1. Aroldis Chapman

Again, please tell us the point of arming a bullpen full of expensive relievers when you can’t generate offense? Britton and Aroldis Chapman are useless if the Yankees aren’t scoring. And there’s no need to pay $30 million total for the two lefties if that continues for another month.

Chapman, right now, is the best closer in the game. He’s got a 0.39 ERA and 0.75 WHIP. He didn’t give up a run in his first 18 appearances of the season. He’s struck out 43 batters in 23 innings. He cannot be touched.

And that’s been great for the Yankees, but it’s not going to get them to a World Series if the defense continues to allow free baserunners and the offense continues to put up three runs or fewer per game. Overspending on relievers when your roster is underachieving is like purchasing a sweet new car without an engine. It’s a waste and won’t get you anywhere.

Once again, if the Yankees look to deviate from their current plans, that would mean they aren’t running it back in 2022, which means, again, there’s no use for Chapman. Save money, acquire more talent, add some new faces in the offseason in free agency/via trade, and begin the mini-rebuild. If the Yankees want Chapman back after 2022, great, they can sign him. But if they decide to conduct a partial teardown, you can kiss the 2022 season goodbye in regard to championship aspirations.

Fans wanted Chapman gone this past offseason after he blew Game 5 of the ALDS. Now the team can part with him before July 31 and acquire premium assets.

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