What Encarnacion trade really means for Clint Frazier: Yankees GM

Let’s not overcomplicate matters.

The Yankees — like just about any team, particularly a contender, specifically a big-market contender — complete acquisitions when they perceive an addition will upgrade their roster and the cost is not prohibitive.

That is what motivated the Yankees to obtain Edwin Encarnacion.

– Do they need a starting pitcher more? Yep. But the Yankees do not control the sequence in which items come on the market. A desirable starter was not as readily available as Encarnacion and/or currently being offered at an exchange rate tolerable to the Yankees. As general manager Brian Cashman said by phone Monday, “We are still looking to improve our club, this did not prevent us from improving our clubs in other ways.”

– Did this mean sending Clint Frazier down to the minors, even though he had the same OPS (.843) as Mookie Betts? Yes. Maybe you could argue that Mike Tauchman should have been optioned first to make room for Encarnacion. But then it was just a matter of a day because Giancarlo Stanton is due back Tuesday and the Yankees did not want to lose Cameron Maybin on waivers or play Frazier just one or two times a week.

“There are a lot of inquiries if this was a chess move to set up an easier lane to trade Frazier,” Cashman said. “It was a simple roster improvement (to add Encarnacion). (Frazier) was going to Triple-A when our guys got healthy and there was no spot for him. He has impacted us in a positive way, we are happy with his progression.”

– Did the Yankees block the Rays from acquiring Encarnacion? Very possibly. But Cashman insisted that was not the motivation. The Yankees owe roughly $8 million to Encarnacion between his salary this year and the buyout on his 2020 option minus the $8.4 million-ish that the Mariners included. Tampa Bay was willing to give better prospects, but not owe Encarnacion as much. (The Rays lost Nelson Cruz in free agency to the Twins for essentially this reason.) The Mariners’ goal now is to save as many dollars as possible and so accepted Juan Then from the Yanks — an acceptable price in the Yanks’ mind to acquire the AL home run leader.

“Encarnacion can impact our roster in a significant way even though (offense was) not an area of weakness,” Cashman said. “It drives that level to an even higher level and it was not cost prohibitive, so we did it.”

So Encarnacion was scheduled to play against the Rays on Monday rather than for them. The Yankees added a player with elite power who is not a huge strikeout guy and whose reputation is as a respected teammate. Encarnacion and Luke Voit will share first base and DH mainly. Stanton, when activated Tuesday, will become more a primary left fielder — “We acquired him to be the DH (last year) because that is what was open,” Cashman said. “But we think (Stanton) is a good athlete and outfielder. He is not Brett Gardner, but Gardner might be the best defensive left fielder in the game.”

The Yanks project Aaron Judge as perhaps another week away, at which point Gardner becomes a fourth outfielder/late-game runner and defender. At a time when out-slugging the other team and having a relentless lineup is as vital as ever, the Yankees deepened their order and provided Aaron Boone more avenues to give regular rest to his players.

“Our job is to find ways to improve the club and there are many ways to do it,” Cashman said.

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The most obvious now is the rotation. Cashman said he actually thought that area was performing well until the last two to three weeks and that if the Yanks can get Luis Severino and James Paxton healthy and performing at their peak, “our rotation would be as good as anyone.” Nevertheless, the GM is looking to improve the rotation.

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The perception is that Frazier will be used as a key piece to land a starter — he was the main bait after the 2017 season when the Yanks tried to obtain Gerrit Cole from Pittsburgh. Frazier is in a tough spot now. If he goes to Triple-A and rakes, that is what is expected. If he falters — at a time when he is clearly peeved to be returning — it will be viewed as a mark against him.

“Of course I have had people inquire many times (about Frazier),” Cashman said. “We haven’t traded him. We like him. He is like any player in any sport who gets tired of hearing that he is a possible trade chip. It irritates him. But it comes with the territory if you are really talented and are currently blocked (in the majors). That is what creates the speculation.”

And Frazier got blocked as the Yankees are stacked with Encarnacion to Voit, Stanton and eventually Judge as corner outfield/DH alternatives. Cashman believes that stack — with Frazier at Triple-A for depth as trade bait — made the team better. Let’s not overcomplicate matters. That is why the AL homer leader is a Yankee today.