Todd Frazier Traded to Yankees for Blake Rutherford and Others

Todd Frazier was acquired by the New York Yankees from the Chicago White Sox, along with Tommy Kahnle and David Robertson the teams announced late Tuesday.

In exchange the White Sox received Blake Rutherford an outfielder who was the first round pick for New York in 2016, Ian Clarkin a southpaw pitching prospect, minor leaguer Tito Polo and Tyler Clippard a right-handed reliever with the Yankees.

Clippard’s contract will help offset some money in the deals for Robertson and Frazier, who is a New Jersey native, and said it felt surreal to be returning home.

This took place all at once, said Frazier. He added that you hear rumors it could possibly be with another club and then it was the Yankees. He added that he was very excited.

To return to a pennant race is a great chance for me as a player to showcase my talents and the team the Yankees have is good, added Frazier.

Rick Hahn the general manager for the White Sox said that Rutherford was the important player for them in this deal and that he was in talks with the Yankees for quite a while.

During the last few weeks, the team has held talks with other teams about players, added Hahn. However, the club decided the best path to take was to acquire talent that has the biggest impact and bundling the players into one group was how to do it.

Hahn announced as well that Yoan Moncada the top prospect for the White Sox, who the team acquired last season in a trade with Boston for Chris Sale, will be called up and in uniform for the Sox on Wednesday for the first time against the NL West leaders the Los Angeles Dodgers.

For Chicago, it is the second high-profile trade in less than a week. Last week, the last place AL Central team traded ace Jose Quintana to the Chicago Cubs for two top prospects and two other minor leaguers.

Hahn added that the team was still open to trading other players before the deadline.

Robertson was once the closer for the Yankees and will be paid $12 million this season and due $13 million for next season. He along with Kahnle will be looked upon to help the Yankees bullpen that has becomes very inconsistent.

Robertson will not have to pitch on a regular basis beyond the seventh inning said Joe Girardi the Yankees manager since the club already has Dellin Betances and closer Aroldis Chapman for that responsibility.