Brett Gardner hit a walk-off home run in the 11th inning to lead the Yankees to a 6-5 win over the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on Thursday night. >> Box score

The Mets traded Lucas Duda to the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday amid speculation that the Yankees were among several teams interested in acquiring him.

The Rays sent pitching prospect Drew Smith to the Mets. TYonder Alonso (A's) and Justin Bour (Marlins) are considered the top first basemen available on the trade market, according to a recent post on MLB Trade Rumors.

Despite acquiring Todd Frazier, the Yankees are still interested in the available players, MLB.com's Mark Feinsand reported last week. However, local reports indicate Bour will soon head to the disabled list after straining an oblique muscle during Monday night's game. It would be his second DL stint this season.

The Dodgers are "increasingly confident" they will acquire A's RHP Sonny Gray, Rangers RHP Yu Darvish, or Tigers RHP Justin Verlander before Monday's non-waiver trade deadline, reports Jon Morosi of Fox Sports.

On Tuesday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported the Yankees were moving closer to striking a deal for Gray and A's first baseman Yonder Alonso.

Yankees IF/OF prospect Jorge Mateo may be involved in a deal with the A's, but a source told MLB.com that Gleyber Torres, Justus Sheffield, and Clint Frazier are untouchable.

The Yankees are interested in acquiring left-handed reliever Justin Wilson, reports Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press. 

Wilson, who spent 2015 with the Yankees, was traded from New York to Detroit for Chad Green and Luis Cessa at the end of that season. In 74 games in New York, he owned 3.10 ERA and struck out 66 in 61 innings. 

The Yankees finished off a two-game sweep of the Reds and have interest in Tigers lefty reliever Justin Wilson. 

Elsewhere, Steven Matz's struggles continue, the Jets claim Lucky Whitehead and the Nets trade for Allen Crabbe. 

Newly acquired Todd Frazier belted his first home run with the Yankees on Wednesday in a 9-5 win over the Reds. 

Coming one day after he hit into an unusual triple play, Frazier said he was thrilled to go deep and finish the day 2-for-3.

"That's baseball in a nutshell," Frazier told reporters after the game. "You hit into a triple play, you do some funky stuff and you think you've seen everything in baseball and then you do something like that. Just very excited, very happy."

Luis Severino tossed seven strong innings and Clint Frazier had a big day as the Yankees beat the Red, 9-5 on Wednesday afternoon at Yankee Stadium >> Box score

Severino allowed two runs on three hits while walking two and striking out nine in seven innings as he lowered his ERA to 3.03.

Frazier went 2-for-4 with a homer, two RBI, a walk, and a run scored and is hitting .290 with an .871 OPS since being called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

The Yankees (52-46) finish a quick two-game set with the Cincinnati Reds (41-59) on Wednesday at 1:05 p.m. at Yankees Stadium.

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The Yankees are in heavy pursuit of starting pitching help - currently the weakest link on the roster - with Athletics right-hander Sonny Gray at the top of their wish list. The issues are the prospect cost and reports that there are as many as six other teams scouting the 27-year-old.

They could land the hurler (or a fallback option), and still have some significant problems to deal with as they try to maintain grip on a playoff spot...

Jordan Montgomery earned his seventh win of the year following a stellar outing Tuesday against the Reds, scattering just two hits over 6 2/3 innings. The Yankees won, 4-2. 

Elsewhere, Yoenis Cespedes nearly hits for the cycle in a Mets win, the Yankees are nearing to a deal with Oakland and the Nets owner is inching closer to selling a minority stake in the franchise. 

Jordan Montgomery allowed just one run on two hits in six and 2/3 innings, Didi Gregorius hit a home run and had two RBIs, and the Yankees defeated the Cincinnati Reds, 4-2, at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night. >> Box score

Montgomery led a Yankees pitching staff that allowed just three hits on the night. Tommy Kahnle, Dellin Betances, and Adam Warren combined to pitch two innings in relief before Aroldis Chapman pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn the save.

Matt Holliday and Aaron Judge each had a hit and scored a run for the Yankees, who amassed a three-run lead after five innings before the Reds pulled within a run in the top of the eighth. Gregorius' homer in the bottom of the eighth provided a late insurance run for New York.

Todd Frazier hit into a triple play in his first game at Yankee Stadium in a Yankees uniform, but also added a hit later in the game.

As OF Clint Frazier continues to make noise in the big leagues, veteran Matt Holliday has been giving the rookie words of advice on how to block out things off the field. 

Frazier isn't a stranger to the spotlight having been the first overall pick of the 2013 MLB Draft. However, since being called up by the Yankees earlier this month, the 22-year-old has been contacted by virtually everyone that has his number.

"Ever since I got called up to the big leagues," Fraizer said, "there have been a lot of people who have tried to sneak their way into my life that didn't play a role for many years."

The Yankees (51-46) begin a 10-game homestand starting with a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds (41-58) on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. at Yankees Stadium.

Yankees OF Clint Frazier has been using fellow outfielder Aaron Judge as a role model during his current hot streak, NorthJersey.com's Bob Klapisch reports. 

Frazier has jumped into the Yankees spotlight recently with exceptional play, and much like Judge, he has been humble since making his big league debut at the beginning of the month. 

"I've got a good guy to take a note out of the book that he's writing right in front of my face," Frazier said. "That would be a good one to follow in the steps of Aaron Judge." 

The Twins have acquired LHP Jaime Garcia and C Anthony Recker from the Braves in exchange for minor league RHP Huascar Ynoa, it was announced on Monday. 

The Yankees were among six teams interested in acquiring Garcia, Jon Heyman of Fanrag Sports reported over the weekend.

Heyman reported that the Yankees prefer to keep Clint Frazier, Gleyber Torres, Justus Sheffield, and James Kaprielian, but because of their depth they wouldn't rule anything out.

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Whether Gary Sanchez can be a successful hitter in the major leagues is no longer disputable. However, the Yankees "full-time" catcher is beginning to demonstrate that scouting reports on his improving catching abilities were potentially off-base.

Understand that this is not a call for Yankees backup catcher Austin Romine to take over the starting catcher role. Romine is strictly a backup who is already getting too much time behind the plate -- and truth be told he's not having a tremendous season behind the dish either. However, if Sanchez does not improve his work behind the plate or it continues to deteriorate from this point, there is a chance the Yankees will debate his future as a catcher for the club.

Sanchez is visibly hurting the Yankees behind the plate this season, making nine errors (two fielding, seven throwing), and he's allowed nine passed balls. While wild pitches are charged to the pitcher's record, Sanchez could have saved a handful of the 25 that have gotten by him by using better mechanics.

A two-run double from Clint Frazier lifted the Yankees to a series win over the Mariners on Sunday. 

Elsewhere, the Mets had their four-game win streak snapped, the Yankees are expected to be active on the trade market and the Mets' top prospect is expected back in the lineup after an illness. 

Clint Frazier hit a tiebreaking two-run double, Didi Gregorius and Brett Gardner combined for three home runs and the New York Yankees beat the Seattle Mariners, 6-4, Sunday at Safeco Field. >> Box score

Gardner went 2-for-5 with a leadoff home run in the first inning and a game-tying RBI single in the sixth inning off James Pazos (2-3). Frazier followed and drove in two runs with a double to left field that made it 6-4, as the Yankees won a series for the first time since June 9-11.

Gregorius homered in the second and fourth innings to give the Yankees a 3-0 lead, but Yankees starting pitcher Caleb Smith allowed a two-run single to Ben Gamel and a two-run double to Guillermo Heredia in the bottom of the fourth inning that gave the Mariners a 4-3 lead.

The Yankees (50-46) will wrap up their series with the Mariners (49-50) on Sunday at 4:10 p.m. ET at Safeco Field in Seattle.

The Yankees traded INF/OF Rob Refsnyder to the Toroto Blue Jays in exchange for 1B Ryan McBroom, the team announced on Sunday.

McBroom hit .243 with 19 doubles, 12 homers, and 54 RBI in 96 games for Double-A New Hampshire this season. He fared much better against lefties, hitting .316 with five doubles and three homers.

Refsnyder had five hits in 35 at-bats for the Yankees this season before being designated for assignment earlier this week.

The Yankees contacted the Marlins about OF Giancarlo Stanton, according to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, but Miami indicated that a deal would not be likely since the team is in the process of being sold.

This call came a few weeks ago as the Yankees have shopped for another power hitter next to Aaron Judge. 

Stanton owns a .274 batting average this season with 30 home runs, 65 RBI and 96 strikeouts to 44 walks. 

He made the All-Star Game in his hometown of Miami and participated in the Home Run Derby, losing to Yankee Gary Sanchez in the first round.

The Yankees bullpen coughed up another possible victory on Saturday evening, as Adam Warren surrendered a Nelson Cruz walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th inning. 

Warren gave up two hits, one run and walked a batter, dropping the Yankees to just 9-19 in one run games this season. 

That is a testament to a bullpen that has received a 3.65 ERA from Aroldis Chapman, has seen Dellin Betances lose control of his pitches and saw former Yankee Tyler Clippard record an ERA that almost sat at 5.00. 

The Yankees came back to tie the game at 4-4 in the eighth inning and then again at 5-5 in the ninth, but ultimately lost to the Mariners, 6-5, on Nelson Cruz's 10th-inning single Saturday night in Seattle.

Aaron Judge hit his 32nd home run of the year in the sixth inning. Ronald Torreyes drove in two runs, including the game-tying run in the ninth.

Masahiro Tanaka pitched six innings and gave up four runs, all in the third inning. He struck out six and walked none in the no-decision.

The Yankees conclude their series with the Mariners on Sunday at 4:10 p.m. ET.

The Yankees (50-45) will face the Mariners (48-50) on Thursday night at 10:10 p.m. ET at Safeco Field in Seattle.

Yankees second baseman Starlin Castro is returning to the 10-day disabled list with a hamstring injury, reports George King of the New York Post.

Tyler Wade has been recalled from Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre.

Castro is returning to the disabled list just one week after being activated from a previous stint. He first landed on the disabled list in late June with a hamstring strain.

In 79 games for the Yankees this season, Castro is hitting .307 with 12 home runs and 45 RBIs. Wade made his big-league debut this season and has three hits in 28 at-bats.

The Yankees are reportedly interested in Rangers RHP Yu Darvish, Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reported. 

According to The Post's George A. King III, Yankees scout Brandon Duckworth was present for Darvish's start against the Rays at Tropicana Field Friday night. The appearance would indicate the Yankees have an interest in the right hander. 

Darvish earned a no-decision in the start, allowing three runs -- all solo home runs -- while striking out 12 and walking one in eight innings. 

Aaron Judge hit his 31st home run of the year and had four RBIs in the Yankees' 5-1 win over the Mariners on Friday.

Judge's three-run home run off Mariners' starter Andrew Moore was his first since July 7, snapping a 10-game homerless streak. He added a sacrifice fly in the third inning.

Judge hit 47 home runs in the home run derby earlier this month, becoming the first rookie to win it outright. In 93 games for the Yankees this season, Judge is hitting .313 with 31 homers, 72 RBI, and 13 doubles.

Aaron Judge hit his 31st home run and CC Sabathia allowed one run over five innings in the Yankees' 5-1 win against the Mariners on Friday night in Seattle. >> Box Score

After allowing a first-inning run, Sabathia settled in to quiet the Mariners' offense for the remainder of his outing to earn his ninth win of the year. 

Judge hit a blast to left field in the fifth inning to drive in Brett Gardner and Gary Sanchez. He would finish with four RBIs on the night. 

The Yankees will not let recently-acquired Todd Frazier wear No. 21.

Frazier, who had planned to ask former-Yankee Paul O'Neill if he could wear the number, was told by Yankees clubhouse manager Rob Cucuzza that the number wasn't available.

"I talked to some guys and 29 it is,'' Frazier said, according to the NY Post. "It's a great number [21], but it doesn't bother me.''

O'Neill wore No. 21 with the Yankees from 1993 until 2001, which was his last season before retiring.

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV Facebook | Twitter | About Me | Archives

Our weekly minor league report canvases the Yankees farm system, providing updates about the status of the teams in action and the organization's top prospects.

Notes: Top-30 prospect rankings (via MLBPipeline.com) are club based with overall MLB ranks, if applicable, in parenthesis. Prospects currently in the major leagues will not be covered here. Team records and statistics are through games played July 20, 2017, unless otherwise noted.

Despite acquiring Todd Frazier and moving Chase Headley to first base, the Yankees remain open to acquiring a first baseman, reports Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.

The Yankees, who were scouting the Mets on Monday night at Citi Field earlier this week, reached out to the Mets shortly after to express interest in 1B Lucas Duda earlier this week, reports Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. 

Duda, 31, is hitting .246 with a .352 OBP and .552 SLG with 17 home runs in 69 games this season.

He is eligible for free agency after the season.

New York Yankees RHP Luis Severino outdueled Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez by striking out six batters in seven scoreless innings in Thursday's 4-1 win at Safeco Field.

A start after going toe-to-toe with Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale, Severino earned a win for the first time since June 10. While he scattered eight hits, the Mariners went 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position and left 12 runners on base.

"I know it's going to be tough every time I face a guy like Felix," Severino said, according to Newsday's Erik Boland. "I just try to bring my 'A' stuff."

A year after going 3-8 with a 5.83 ERA in 22 games (11 starts), Severino is now tied with Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer for the second most starts (seven) of at least seven innings and one or fewer runs allowed. The Los Angeles Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw leads the majors with 10.

New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman said rookie outfielder Clint Frazier will likely be optioned to the minors once outfielder Aaron Hicks returns from the disabled list.

Hicks had a .290/.398/.515 batting line, all career-bests, with 10 home runs and 37 RBIs in 60 games before he went on the DL on June 25 with a right oblique injury. While he was initially expected to miss three to four weeks, Cashman said he is not near a return.

"Hicks isn't doing anything yet," Cashman said, according to the New York Post's George A. King III, "so [optioning Frazier to the minors] is down the road."

Luis Severino struck out six batters over seven scoreless innings as the Yankees downed the Mariners, 4-1, on Thursday. 

Elsewhere, the Mets walk off against the Cardinals, the Jets signed their first-round pick and O.J. Simpson is granted parole. 

Luis Severino pitched seven innings for the third straight start, allowing no runs and striking out six, as the Yankees beat the Mariners, 4-1, on Thursday night in Seattle. >> Box score

Severino outpitched Felix Hernandez, who allowed fewer hits but gave up a solo homer to Brett Gardner in the sixth inning for the game's first run. Severino has now allowed four total runs in his last 21 innings.

New York recorded seven hits to Seattle's 10. Aaron Judge drove in a run with a single in the eighth inning and the Yankees also scored on Robinson Cano's throwing error in the ninth. Cano got some retribution in the bottom half of the frame, doubling off Aroldis Chapman to drive in the Mariners' only run.

Todd Frazier recorded his first hit as a Yankee; he was 1-for-4 overall with a run scored. Dellin Betances pitched a clean eighth inning for his 11th hold of the year, allowing one hit and notching a strikeout.

The Yankees (48-45) will open a four-game series with the Mariners (48-48) on Thursday night at 10:10 p.m. ET at Safeco Field in Seattle.

The Yankees will not be trading Dellin Betances before the July 31 non-waiver trading deadline, GM Brian Cashman said Friday on MLB Network Radio.

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports said Wednesday that looking to trade Betances in order to acquire a starting pitcher under team control beyond this season was something the Yankees should consider.

"Betances is under control for the same amount of time that Andrew Miller was a year ago - this season, plus two more. And actually, he's more affordable than Miller was," Rosenthal writes. "Maybe it's all talk, but the Yankees are adamant that they do not want to trade their top prospects, the ones who are closest to the majors or already on their club. Robertson could replace Betances as the setup man for closer Aroldis Chapman. And with Kahnle, the Yankees' bullpen still would be deeper than before."

Reliever David Robertson, who came over in the Yankees' recent trade with the White Sox, is thrilled to be back in the place where he began his major league career. 

Robertson pitched seven years with the Yankees before signing with the White Sox before the 2015 season. 

Newly acquired Todd Frazier will be the Yankees' everyday third baseman, manager Joe Girardi said after Wednesday's loss to the Twins.

Chase Headley willl move to first base and get a "crash course" at the position, Girardi told reporters.

"I think he's got very good hands and he's very intellectual," Girardi said. "I think he can make the adjustment very quick. I don't see it being a problem."

The Yankees were touched up for six runs in the second inning as they fell to the Twins, 6-1. 

Elsewhere, the Red Bulls and NYCFC both earn wins on the pitch and Jacob deGrom won his seventh consecutive start. 

The Twins scored six runs with two outs in the second inning as they beat the Yankees, 6-1, on Wednesday afternoon at Target Field in Minnesota >> Box score 

Jordan Montgomery allowed run-scoring hits to Zack Granite and Eduardo Escobar before serving up a three-run homer to Miguel Sano as the Twins took a 6-0 lead in the second inning -- with all the runs coming with two outs.

The Yankees managed seven hits, with Brett Gardner's RBI single in the seventh inning accounting for their only runs.

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Yankees GM Brian Cashman stated the club would be "cautious buyers" during the trade deadline period. If a seven-player deal -- bringing in three major leaguers for one of the game's top prospects -- is cautious, this could be an interesting 13 days ahead.

The Yankees clearly filled two of their biggest holes by adding former organization relievers David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle to a tired and inconsistent bullpen, while adding Todd Frazier should stabilize the revolving door at first base for the remainder of the season.

The Yankees have DFA'd 1B Ji-Man Choi and INF/OF Rob Refnsyder, and optioned LHP Chasen Shreve to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in order to make room on the roster for 1B/3B Todd Frazier, and relievers David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle.

Frazier, Robertson, and Kahnle were acquired from the White Sox on Tuesday night.

Choi, 26, hit .267 with a .333 OBP and .733 SLG with two HR and five RBI in 15 at-bats for the Yankees after being called up from Triple-A on July 5.

The Yankees (48-44) play the final game of a three-game series against the Twins (47-46) at Target Field in Minnesota on Tuesday at 1:10 p.m.

The Yankees have acquired third baseman Todd Frazier, closer David Robertson, and pitcher Tommy Kahnle from the White Sox in exchange for Tyler Clippard, Ian Clarkin, 2016 first-round pick Blake Rutherford, and Tito Polo.

Frazier, 31, is hitting .207 with 16 home runs, 44 RBI, and 15 doubles in 81 games for the White Sox this season.

"It's kind of surreal here right now because it all happened at once and you hear the rumors, it could have been a different team, here and there," Frazier told reporters on Tuesday night. "But it's the Yankees so I'm pretty excited."

The Yankees rallied from a 2-0 deficit to score five runs in the fifth inning in a 6-3 win over the Twins on Tuesday. >> Box score 

The Yankees (47-44) play Game 2 of a three-game series against the Twins (47-45) at Target Field in Minnesota on Tuesday night at 8:10.