Diamondbacks and Yankees' Robbie Ray Talks Reportedly Dead After Arizona's Crazy Demands
By Adam Weinrib
The New York Yankees need starting pitching. As much of it as possible, in fact.
Unfortunately for them, the other teams in the league browse Twitter and scope through the rumor mill, too. They know the team is desperate. They know Clint Frazier is available.
So why not combine all that knowledge and ask for Clint Frazier plus the absolute moon for one of the few semi-desirable pitching targets still left? That's what the D-Backs have tried to do here, and it seems to be backfiring...on New York, once again.
Dbacks asked the Yankees for Clint Frazier plus 3 prospects for Robbie Ray. That’s not happening. Sides very far apart @BNightengale called talk dead
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 31, 2019
Ray's posted elite strikeout numbers in each of the last several seasons, including 173 in just 129 innings pitched this season. Unfortunately for Arizona, he still may not be worth a Frazier-plus-the-field haul; he's got the sixth-worst walk rate in the game the past few years.
The Yankees are more than willing to pay their price only, especially for someone like Ray, after letting the Trevor Bauer chase dissipate before it ever really began.
Dbacks asked Yanks for Clarke Schmidt along with Frazier plus more in Ray talks
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 31, 2019
Clint Frazier, Clarke Schmidt, and two more? That's...not going to cut it, in this universe.