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The Yankees have received phone calls from some clubs regarding the availability of Clint Frazier and Miguel Andujar, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.
New York general manager Brian Cashman revealed these recent requests for Frazier and Andujar during an interview with SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio, After all, the Yankees are still looking to improve their roster for 2018 and beyond, as they have been linked in trade discussions with Pirates starter Gerrit Cole, Orioles third baseman Manny Machado, Diamondbacks starter Patrick Corbin and Tigers starter Michael Fulmer.
Frazier is a 23-year-old outfielder who batted .231/.268/.448 with four home runs and 17 RBI in his first 39 games last season in the majors. Since the Yankees acquired him from the Indians in the Andrew Miller trade in 2016, Frazier is near the bottom of the pecking order as far as the Yankess’ top outfielders are concerned, especially after they acquired National League MVP Giancarlo Stanton from the Marlins.
But, Cashman said Frazier “is a very valuable, attractive asset” and the outfield is “an area of depth,” both of which have given him and the club the feeling that they “may make a trade at some point.”
Andujar, a 22-year-old third baseman who is ranked the fifth-best prospect in the Yankees’ farm system according to MLBPipeline.com, may possibly battle for the starting spot at the hot corner this year after a great 2017 campaign in the minors. He had a .315/.352/.498 slash line while playing 125 games last season between Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Andujar’s play earned him playing time in four games with the Yankees, with his best performance being a 3-for-4 day with a double, four RBI, a walk and a stolen base in his June 28 debut against the White Sox in Chicago.
Cashman said Andujar is “a very exciting talent.” More importantly, he understands that Frazier and Andujar are viewed “as the next level of guys” who are ready to make an impact in the majors, which is why trading one or both of these players could potentially net a big gain for the franchise, which lost to the Astros in the ALCS in seven games in 2017 and is expected to contend for a World Series crown in 2018.