Notes: Frazier on rumors; LeMahieu update

As the Yankees hunt for upgrades prior to Monday’s Trade Deadline -- particularly on the pitching front -- Clint Frazier understands why his name continues to be mentioned. The Yankees outfielder has come to view interest from other teams as a compliment.

“I feel like it wouldn’t be a Trade Deadline unless my name is getting tossed in there,” Frazier said. “I can’t even remember the last Trade Deadline that my name wasn’t mentioned. I’m still here. I’ve dealt with the possibility of maybe being traded; it hasn’t happened. I just want to play.”

A crowded outfield mix will permit the Yankees to discuss potential trades involving Frazier, who turns 26 next month. Entering play on Wednesday, Frazier was 9-for-27 (.333) with three doubles, two homers and eight RBIs since being promoted from the alternate site following injuries to Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.

Judge was activated from the 10-day injured list and started in right field during the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader, although he reinjured his calf in the game and might be headed back to the IL. Stanton is believed to be about one to two weeks away from returning to the DH role. With Brett Gardner, Aaron Hicks and Mike Tauchman also in the mix, finding a set outfield position has proven challenging for Frazier.

“I can’t really control that,” Frazier said. “I’ve mentioned earlier, I’m done trying to play GM, but obviously it’s not a bad thing if my name is getting mentioned [in trade rumors]. Maybe it shows the interest of other teams in possibly wanting to acquire me.”

With the Trade Deadline five days away, the Yankees are known to have spoken with the Giants about right-hander Kevin Gausman and with the Mariners about right-hander Taijuan Walker. They are also monitoring the situation with Indians right-handers Mike Clevinger and Zach Plesac.

Frazier, who was acquired from the Indians prior to the 2016 Trade Deadline in a move that sent left-hander Andrew Miller to Cleveland, said that player moves were a topic of conversation on the Yankees’ bus on Tuesday.

“Just looking around the bus, I realized there’s a lot of people that didn’t come up through this organization, and I’m one of them,” Frazier said. “I just want to play. I feel like right now I have the ability to play at a little bit higher level than I have in the past. I’m ready to continue going out there and showing it, so whoever it’s for would be fine with me moving forward.”

Comeback trail
Infielder DJ LeMahieu (left thumb sprain) is scheduled to hit off a high-velocity machine on Wednesday and Thursday, with the possibility of taking live at-bats over the weekend. Boone said the Yanks are “encouraged” by LeMahieu’s progress.

Stanton (left hamstring strain) has been hitting off machines and is said to be running at about 70 percent effort.

Boone said that Higashioka (right oblique strain) is “getting real close” as he ramps up activities at the alternate site and is set to take live at-bats within the next few days.

Bombers bits
Right-hander Albert Abreu was appointed as the Yankees’ “29th man” for Wednesday’s doubleheader.

Up next
As Major League Baseball prepares to celebrate Jackie Robinson Day on Friday, the Yankees and Mets are scheduled to play a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium, making up one of the postponements from last weekend. Left-hander Jordan Montgomery is scheduled to pitch Game 1 of the twin bill.