MLB rumors: Will Yankees' Brian Cashman trade Clint Frazier for starting pitching?

by Felix Pantaleón

The MLB non-waiver trade deadline is July 31, 2018 (7/31/18). The Yankees are tied with the Boston Red Sox for first place in the American League East. General manager Brian Cashman will be looking to upgrade the starting rotation, but not at the cost of future Baby Bombers Gleyber Torres and Clint Frazier.

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Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has put together a roster which currently owns the best record in baseball (50-25).

But the best will always want to get better.

So Cashman will be keeping a close eye on the trade market before the July 31st non-waiver deadline.

With injuries to Masahiro Tanaka and Jordan Montgomery, it’s safe to say Cashman will consider upgrading the starting rotation.

But not at the expense of the future of the ballclub. Cashman previously told the media he has no interest in trading rookie second baseman Gleyber Torres.

Cashman held court with NBC 4 New York’s Bruce Beck on Sunday, per the New York Daily News, and expanded his list of Baby Bombers not being used as trade bait:

“I think our starting pitching is good enough, but we want to make it better.”

The Yankees GM, though, would prefer not to part with Clint Frazier to get another impact piece in the rotation.

“We’re lucky to have him,” Cashman said of Frazier. “He’s getting better. He’s a toolbox that every year since we’ve gotten him he’s exponentially improved.”

…

“We’d like to hold on to him,” Cashman said while suggesting there could very well be a more significant role for Frazier over time. “I know he’s someone that we’re going to get asked a lot about, and so far we’ve been able to say no and hand-check everything, but I’m a big Clint Frazier fan.”

Yanks mailbag: Will they get rid of Shreve?

Frazier has seen limited playing time this season with the Yankees. In 20 at-bats, he’s hitting .350.

Frazier almost hit the game-winning home run against the Rays on Sunday in Tampa, Fla., when he pinch-hit for Neil Walker to start the ninth inning with the score tied at 6-6. But his towering drive hit a speaker at the very top of Tropicana Field, and fell back to field. The Yankees went on to lose, 7-6, in 12 innings.

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @rosenstein73. Find NJ.com on Facebook.