Detroit Tigers should NOT pursue Clint Frazier in Fulmer talks

Detroit Tigers Hot Take: The team should not target Clint Frazier as the primary return in trade talks surrounding Michael Fulmer.

Rumors have begun flying around that the Detroit Tigers are listening in on trade offers for star pitcher Michael Fulmer.

The Yankees have shown significant interest in the right-hander, and they have a pool of young prospects that could entice the Tigers into moving Fulmer.

One of those young players is outfielder Clint Frazier.

Frazier, 23, was the fifth overall pick in the 2013 draft by the Cleveland Indians.

He was shipped to the Yankees in the trade deadline deal that gave the Indians stud left-hander Andrew Miller. Miller helped lead the Indians all the way to Game Seven of the World Series in 2016.

The Yankees are unlikely to give up stud middle infielder Gleyber Torres. Frazier may seem like the next best thing the Tigers could get for Fulmer.

However, the Tigers would be making a mistake by focusing on Frazier as the prize of the deal.

Don’t get me wrong – Frazier has a lot going for him. He would likely come in and compete for a starting job immediately. At 23, he could be a big piece of Detroit’s future.

However, there are enough concerns about Frazier that the Tigers should look elsewhere in the Yankees system to move Fulmer.

Clint Frazier made his major league debut last season for the Yankees. In a crowded outfield, Frazier was still able to rack up 134 at-bats. He slashed .231/.268/.448 with four home runs and an 82 wRC+.

He also posted a 4.9% walk rate and a very high 30.3% strikeout rate.

The small sample size is worth noting. However, Frazier has accrued a total of 395 at-bats at the Triple-A level across the last two seasons.

In those at-bats, he hit .248/.323/.446 with 15 home runs, nine stolen bases and a 105/44 K/BB ratio.

There is not enough success in Triple-A and in the major leagues to suggest that Frazier will be an immediate, high-impact hitter for the Tigers.

Frazier also posted negative defense numbers in both left and right field last season, a concerning development for a player once considered a center field prospect. Again, the sample size was pretty small, but a player with high strikeout totals, a low batting average and poor corner outfield defense does not sound like the prize return in a hypothetical Michael Fulmer trade to me.

A deal involving Michael Fulmer should net someone who is a near lock to be an above-average regular. Frazier has enough holes in his game that he should not be the centerpiece in any Fulmer deal.

The Tigers trading Fulmer would be a clear sign that the team is not planning on contending for the next three seasons. If that is the case, the Tigers should look to add some of New York’s younger minor league talent.

Young prospects carry substantial risk. They are more volatile and have a greater chance of fizzling out at the big league level.

However, the Tigers could find a combination of young high-profile prospects and big league ready contributors in the Yankees system.

Estevan Florial

One name that the Tigers should be targeting is Estevan Florial. Just barely 20 years old, Florial thrived across two levels of the minor leagues last season.

In 344 at-bats at Single-A, Florial slashed .297/.373/.486 with 11 home runs, 17 RBI, a 10.5% walk rate and a 146 wRC+. That production earned him a call up to High-A, where he continued to rake.

He posted a .303/.368/.461 line with a 10.3% walk rate and a 141 wRC+ in 76 at-bats.

His strikeout rate, while concerning, dipped from 31.9% at Single-A to 27.6% at High-A. Sample size aside, it is encouraging to see a 19-year-old lower his strikeout rate while he climbs through the minor leagues.

Florial has the tools to be a 20 home run, 20 steal threat in the major leagues if he reaches his full potential. He also plays center field, and scouts believe he has the ability to stick there in the majors.

Obviously, Florial is further away from making an impact in the major leagues than Frazier. But the strong defense, combination of power and speed, and high walk rate make him a very intriguing prospect and one that the Tigers would love to have in their system.

There is a chance that Florial is viewed by the Yankees as untouchable, like Torres. He is certainly worth inquiring about however, as the Yankees will need to move some serious prospect capital in order to acquire Fulmer.

As good as Florial is, the Tigers would want another prospect or two in order to move Fulmer.

One additional piece the Tigers could go after is second baseman Nick Solak.

Solak, 22, spent most of last season at High-A. He hit .301/.397/.460 with 10 home runs, 13 stolen bases, a 13.1% walk rate and a 153 wRC+.

He was promoted to Double-A and hit .286 with a 112 wRC+ in 119 at-bats.

The Tigers are in need of middle infield depth.

Both Ian Kinsler and Jose Iglesias are potential trade candidates. Dixon Machado profiles more as a utility infielder, and infield prospects Dawel Lugo and Isaac Paredes are a few years away from making the big leagues.

Solak could start at second base for the Tigers as soon as 2019. His defensive profile is a bit murky, but if he can play at least average defense at second he should be a solid big league regular.

Being able to move Fulmer for a high-upside outfield prospect and a solid second base prospect would be a strong move for General Manager Al Avila.

Getting a pitching prospect included would be even better.

The Yankees are flush with flamethrowing pitching prospects. While they will not part with their stud arms like Chance Adams or Justus Sheffield (not if they are moving Florial) the Tigers could still squeeze a hard-throwing pitcher out of them in a potential Fulmer trade.

A few names to keep on the radar in the Yankees system include Freicer Perez, Dillon Tate, Domingo German and Giovanny Gallegos.

Perez, Tate and German are all starting pitching prospects who have a 60 grade fastball or higher. Each of them comes with some level of risk (all pitching prospects do) but each could factor into the Detroit rotation in the next year or so.

Gallegos is a relief pitcher who posted 69 strikeouts in 43.1 innings at Triple-A last season. He has an explosive fastball and would likely find his way into the Detroit bullpen as soon as 2018.

Related Story: Yankees interested in Michael Fulmer

Trading Michael Fulmer would be a hard pill for Tiger fans to swallow. However, if the Tigers are hoping to deal Fulmer for prospects that will help them compete in 2020 and beyond, they should consider moving the 2016 AL Rookie of the Year.

Just not for Clint Frazier.