As the Chicago White Sox look to rebuild and the New York Yankees look to make a run deep into the playoffs, the teams are reportedly nearing a trade that would work well for them both.
As of right now, here’s what the deal looks like:
The Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees are very close on a deal that would send third baseman Todd Frazier and relief pitchers David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle from Chicago to New York, sources have told FanRag Sports.
In return, the White Sox will reportedly get multiple prospects, including Blake Rutherford, the Yankees’ No. 1 pick in 2016. They’ll also get veteran reliever Tyler Clippard.
Blake Rutherford was #Yankees' No. 3 prospect, and easily the prize of the package the #WhiteSox will receive for Robertson/Kahnle/Frazier
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 19, 2017
LHP Ian Clarkin, #Yankees No. 17 prospect who's in his 4th season at Class A Tampa after series of injuries,also in deal, per @Joelsherman1
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 19, 2017
Reliever Tyler Clippard also in package the #WhiteSox will receive from #Yankees, per @Feinsand, helping offset Frazier/Robertson contracts
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 19, 2017
Frazier is the biggest name in the deal, having hit 40 home runs last year, but Kahnle leads the group in WAR this year, and the White Sox reportedly saw him as the most valuable.
An AL executive said that between Frazier, Robertson and Kahnle, the White Sox were asking the most for Kahnle by far.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 19, 2017
Frazier is a nice power-hitting bat and with Kahnle, the Yankees are improving their already stellar bullpen. Meanwhile, the White Sox seem to have made the right choice and resigned to the fact that they need to build for the future. After trading Jose Quintana to the Cubs, the White Sox now have the best farm system in baseball, with eight of the top 100 prospects in the minors, according to Baseball America.
Ironically, the White Sox, after years of futility, are starting to mimic the Cubs’ approach of tanking and rebuilding through the farm system.
After this trade, the Yankees will be better this year and the White Sox will be better in five years. That’s all either team could ask for.
UPDATE: The trade is official.
#WhiteSox have acquired Blake Rutherford, Ian Clarkin, Tito Polo & Tyler Clippard from NYY in exchange for Frazier, Kahnle & Robertson.
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) July 19, 2017
