New York Yankees
Yankees get: Jose Quintana
White Sox get: Clint Frazier, Jorge Mateo, Dillion Tate, Lottery Ticket
Before analyzing this trade it’s important to note that the Yankees are no longer in the bidding for Quintana. Brian Cashman recently said that New York is unlikely to add to their 2017 roster. While Cashman could always have a change of heart, it seems improbable that Quintana ends up in the Bronx.
However at one point the Yankees did make an offer on Quintana, and were considered the favorites. Use this rumored trade proposal to think of what could’ve been had Rick Hahn pulled the trigger.
Bilek reported that while the Yankees were unwilling to trade Gleyber Torres, Cashman could’ve been swayed to include top prospect Clint Frazier. After asking for Blake Rutherford and Miguel Andujar, the Yankees countered by including fellow top prospect Jorge Mateo and lottery ticket Dillion Tate.
While Tate and the other “lottery ticket” prospect are uncertain, Frazier and Mateo would’ve been a massive haul for the White Sox. Both players are not only top 100 prospects, but top 20 prospects.
Frazier is the Yankees best prospect and the 15th best prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline. Frazier has appeared in 416 minor league games, hitting .275 with 50 home runs, 205 RBIs and 43 stolen bases.
Frazier is a future everyday MLB outfielder and a perennial All Star. He has a great combination of size/speed. With the White Sox he would’ve likely been the team’s center fielder of the future and a fearsome addition to Chicago’s future lineup.
Mateo is the Yankees second best prospect and the 18th best prospect in baseball. In Mateo’s 323 minor league games, the prospect hit .270 with 18 homeruns, 122 RBIs and 182 stolen bases.
Clearly Mateo’s speed stands out among his other tools. He would likely play second or third base with the White Sox while hitting towards the top of the lineup. A 1-2 punch of Mateo and Tim Anderson would lead to Chicago creating and scoring more runs, and having an overall improved offense.
Tate is the Yankees 11th best prospect. He has appeared in 30 minor league games and 91.1 innings. He holds a career 4-3 record with a 4.34 ERA and a 78/36 K/BB ratio.
The jury is still out on Tate, and he may very well end up being a lifetime reliever. However he would be an interesting piece and a prospect to watch in the Sox farm system.
The lottery ticket would function in the same way the Single A prospect did in the Astros trade. Hahn would hope to get lucky on a not so highly touted prospect.
Barring an unforeseen circumstance, this trade proposal will not come to light. If Cashman did offer this at one point, the Sox would be getting quite the haul. But at this point, Clint Frazier and Jorge Mateo on the White Sox is just a fan’s pipe dream.
