Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

The Yankees are already active in trade talks with other teams, but have not yet been able to agree on a deal for their top priority, a starting pitcher. It's clear to rivals, though, that Brian Cashman will not move Clint Frazier for a free-agent-to-be like Madison Bumgarner or Zack Wheeler.

As SNY has reported, the Yankees like Wheeler, understanding that his season has been better than some of his statistics suggest. The rumor mill has linked the Yanks to Bumgarner, though the club's actual interest in the San Francisco lefty has been lukewarm so far.

The Yanks are also willing to deal Frazier in the right situation, but will be very careful in doing so. He is an above-average major league hitter with five years of team control remaining before free agency. Simply put, the Yankees will not move years of Frazier for a few months of a Wheeler or Bumgarner, according to multiple major league sources.

This should come as no surprise to anyone who follows Cashman's patterns. He is rarely inclined to sacrifice years of control for a rental. For example, when he traded prospect Justus Sheffield to Seattle for James Paxton, Paxton had two full years remaining before free agency.

The Yankees have some level of interest in several pitchers who are under control beyond this year, including Toronto's Marcus Stroman and Cleveland's Trevor Bauer. Washington's Max Scherzer looms as a possibility, but the industry remains highly skeptical that Nationals ownership would sign off on a trade.

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