Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson believes the Yankees have a legitimate shot at winning the pennant this October, but if that goal requires the franchise to yield its top prospects for a trade deadline piece, he’s simply not on board.
“It’s about winning,” Jackson told the New York Post on Monday. “You don’t want to trade your kids, but I’m sure [the front office] is gonna do the right things if we have an opportunity to win everything, to win the pennant. I have all confidence in what Brian [Cashman’s] doing.”
Jackson, who’s worked as an advisor to the club for countless years, recently spent three days in the dugout with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, a team he also owns a stake in. After his visit, it was made quite clear that he doesn’t want to see Gleyber Torres and Clint Frazier — the Yankees’ top two farmhands — moved from the organization.Â
According to the Post, Jackson considers Torres to be a “big league player,” and someone who has a real chance to see the Bronx this summer, which of course is contingent on Chase Headley’s production at third base.
“He certainly has the skill-set to do it,” Jackson said. “How he progresses is dependent on him [and] if he plays in the big leagues this year. He’ll make it an easy decision one way or the other. It depends on what we need and things like that. When the right time comes around, he’ll get there, I’m sure of it.”
Torres, who doesn’t turn 21 until December, was promoted to Triple-A on May 22 after hitting .273 with 10 doubles and 18 RBI in 32 games with Double-A Trenton. He’s a natural shortstop, but the Yankees have made an effort to get him acclimated to second and third base as well. While Torres’ progress is being heavily monitored, Jackson said he was most impressed with the youngster’s “maturity and calmness.”
Jackson also spoke highly of Frazier, who he’s built a relationship with since last fall. The 22-year-old outfielder garned much attention this spring because of his long and lucious red locks, but Jackson is sold on Frazier’s makeup, and believes every team needs a little attitude.
“He’s confident, he’s young,” Jackson told the Post. “He’s 22 years old. I can’t remember back when I was 22. I was a good player and wanted everybody to know it. And I think he’s the same way. He’s learning to manage himself. I was a young, unruly guy. I didn’t know my butt from third base. You get your arms around these guys and they mature. The talent is a little raw, but he’ll get there. There’s no substitute for talent. A guy can be a little wild, a little offbeat or a little round trying to get into a square hole.
“We certainly raised hell a little bit and I was probably a guy who threw us off line a little bit, but if you can build back to a championship, I see a little extra ingredient. We raised hell in my era, but when it came to the game, we were hard to beat as a unit.”
Although Torres and Frazier are believed to have the most potential, the Yankees shouldn’t forget about outfielder Dustin Fowler, who’s proving to be worthy of a big league promotion. The 22-year-old lefty is slashing .300/.335/.563 with 15 doubles, nine home runs and 28 RBI in Triple-A, and Jackson has kept tabs on him, saying Fowler’s “probably closer [to the majors] than anybody.”
Whether the Yankees elect to buy or stand pat at the trade deadline, Jackson has confidence that the front office won’t jeopardize the team’s trajectory of future success.Â
“You want to take into consideration all the things you need when you start sniffing the pennant and we keep playing the way we are and getting consistently better,” Jackson said. “We thought we were short on pitching, but it looks like the pitching is getting better. Those decisions will be made at the right time. It’s up to them to make the ball club better, and if we can get an opportunity to win in 2017, you never know what happens to make that happen.”
