Yankees’ Clint Frazier on DL, but was wanted man at trade deadline

Yankees GM Brian Cashman opted against including outfielder Clint Frazier in any of his recent trades before the July 31, 2018 (7/31/18) non-waiver deadline. Frazier is on the disabled list with post-concussion symptoms.

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NEW YORK — Yankees outfielder Clint Frazier’s second head injury of the season, a migraine issue that is ongoing, didn’t stop opposition clubs from trying to deal for him leading up to Tuesday’s trade deadline.

Apparently several clubs tried to pry Frazier from the Yankees.

Like last winter, Yankees GM Brian Cashman opted to keep Frazier, a talented 23-year-old who has been on the disabled list since July 20 due to dizziness after being sidelined from Feb. 24 until April 26 with a concussion.

“He’s been asked about,” Cashman, who made five big trades in the last week, said Tuesday before the Yankees’ 6-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles. “He was asked about during this deadline regardless of being on the DL because obviously if you’re a buyer and you’re looking to fight another day, you’re looking to invest in future like we did not too long ago. And if you’re going to do that, he’s going to be somebody you should be asking about.

“So that did occur during this process and I stayed to my word that I conveyed (in previous interviews) that we value him a great deal. He survived this deadline and he survived the winter, and it’s because we do value him. If not, something would have happened already.”

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There’s no timetable on a possible return for Frazier, who is getting daily treatment in Tampa.

“He’s still dealing with some symptoms, some fogginess and whatnot,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “We’re just trying to get to the bottom of it and hopefully if we can get him symptom free here and start ramping up the baseball work … once that happens, because he is in good shape, hopefully it’s something that can move quickly that he would become an option for us.”

Frazier has played just 67 games this season due to his concussion and newest issue, 52 in the minors plus 15 with the Yankees over four call-ups from Triple-A since mid-May.

Thus far, Frazier has spent a lot of time in Triple-A this season because the Yankees have been carrying just four outfielders on a roster that mostly has included 13 pitchers. With Aaron Judge currently on the DL, the Yanks’ outfielders are Brett Gardner, Aaron Hicks, Giancarlo Stanton (who also does a lot of DHing) and Shane Robinson, the latter of whom is up from Triple-A due to Judge’s fractured wrist.

A long-time trade candidate, Frazier has been vocal that he wants to remain with the Yankees in interviews and it’s possible the starting left field job will open up for him in 2019 if Gardner’s $12.5 million club option isn’t picked up.

“I know Clint Frazier wants to be successful here,” Cashman said. “He wants to have his career here. So he’s here.”

Randy Miller may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com on Facebook.