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MLB Trade Deadline: 5 young players the Yankees could trade for an ace

By Joshua Sadlock

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 18: Clint Frazier #77 of the New York Yankees follows through on his grounder hit in an MLB baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays on May 18, 2019 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Yankees lost 2-1. Teams wore camouflage caps and accessories to honor the military today for Armed Forces Day. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 18: Clint Frazier #77 of the New York Yankees follows through on his grounder hit in an MLB baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays on May 18, 2019 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Yankees lost 2-1. Teams wore camouflage caps and accessories to honor the military today for Armed Forces Day. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – MAY 18: Clint Frazier #77 of the New York Yankees follows through on his grounder hit in an MLB baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays on May 18, 2019 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Yankees lost 2-1. Teams wore camouflage caps and accessories to honor the military today for Armed Forces Day. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 18: Clint Frazier #77 of the New York Yankees follows through on his grounder hit in an MLB baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays on May 18, 2019 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Yankees lost 2-1. Teams wore camouflage caps and accessories to honor the military today for Armed Forces Day. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images) /

1. Clint Frazier

Twenty-four-year-old outfielder Clint Frazier has left behind prospect status, but hasn’t quite established himself as a fixture on the Yankees 25-man roster, let alone the starting lineup. Frazier was sent back to Triple-A after the Edwin Encarnacion deal, setting off speculation that he would wind up being included in any trade package the Yankees put together for a starting pitcher.

Frazier has now played in over 100 games in parts of three MLB seasons since making his debut in 2017. He has hit .262/.314/.474 with 15 home runs and 52 RBI. Prior to his demotion, he had hit .283/.330/.513 with 11 home runs and 34 RBI. Frazier filled in well offensively for the Yankees while Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge were on the Injured List.

Hitting hasn’t been what’s keeping Frazier from nailing down a permanent starting job with the Yankees, though they’d likely prefer he tighten up his strike zone. He has been a defensive nightmare in right field in the big leagues. Frazier is reasonably athletic, but has been awful in the field. In only 80 total games in the outfield, he has been worth -12 defensive runs saved and -1.6 dWAR.

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It’s far too early in Frazier’s career to move him to a full-time DH role, but the Yankees may not have time to wait around while he learns to play defense. He has also had a few run-ins with the New York media, and may just need a fresh start to establish himself fully at the MLB level. There’s still more than enough upside in Frazier’s bat to generate interest in him as the main piece in a package for a top-end starting pitcher.

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