The New York Yankees spared the life of outfielder Clint Frazier this past offseason, as they refused to include him in a potential deal for a top pitching option. Ultimately, Zack Greinke went to the Houston Astros, go figure, and Frazier was left in the minor league system with no hopes of playing in the majors again this past campaign.
After giving passive aggressive answers to media members, Frazier was sent back down to the minors in which he was thought to be trade bait for the deadline on July 31. Now that the Yankees have been eliminated from playoffs, the speculation begins on who could be on the block, and Clint is undoubtedly a valuable asset they could look to utilize.
Why would the New York Yankees trade him?
One reason the Bombers will likely look to move Frazier is that there isn’t a spot for him in the outfield next season. They currently have Aaron Judge, Aaron Hicks, Giancarlo Stanton, Mike Tauchman, and there’s always the possibility Brett Gardner and Cameron Maybin return.
Having four outfielders who will play over Frazier on the 40-man roster makes him expendable. Factor in Tyler Wade, who’s a better defender in every aspect, and we can already kiss “Red thunder” goodbye.
What kind of value does Frazier have?
The outfielder lost a ton of value last season after having issues with his glove. Defensive struggles played a part in his replacing, so we can’t assume he will be a massive bargaining chip in regards to a potential starting pitcher. In reality, the Yanks could look to add a reliable bullpen arm in exchange for Frazier. I don’t believe he can be a centerpiece in a deal at this point in his career, but he could offer great value for a team looking to retool their outfield and add a solid offensive contributor.