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Indians trade Frazier, Sheffield to Yankees

Tribe deal top prospect, lefty, pair of right-handers for reliever Miller
July 31, 2016

Clint Frazier has been on a fast track to Progressive Field ever since Cleveland selected him fifth overall in the 2013 Draft. But now that path has a different destination.

The Indians traded their top prospect, along with left-hander Justus Sheffield and right-handers Ben Heller and J.P. Feyereisen, to the Yankees in exchange for left-handed reliever Andrew Miller on Sunday morning. Frazier became New York's No. 1 prospect, with Sheffield slotting in at No. 7.

"Thank you Yankees for this amazing opportunity," Frazier said on Twitter. "I can't wait to chase my dream in pin stripes!"

Frazier began the season at Double-A Akron, hitting .273 with 13 homers, 25 doubles and 48 RBIs in 89 games. The Indians promoted MLB.com's No. 24 overall prospect to Triple-A on July 25, and he has tallied at least one hit in four of his five games. Frazier collected five knocks and two runs scored in his brief tenure with Columbus.

In his second full season, Cleveland's former No. 5 prospect Sheffield posted a 3.59 ERA with 93 strikeouts and 40 walks over 95 1/3 innings across 19 starts for Class A Advanced Lynchburg. MLB.com's No. 95 overall prospect sports a plus fastball and an above-average curveball.

Sheffield thanked the Indians on Twitter, adding that he had learned a lot in three years in the organization.

Heller also made the midseason move to Columbus. The Indians' former No. 30 prospect notched a career-best 1.73 ERA with 48 punchouts, 12 walks and 12 saves in 43 appearances across Double-A and Triple-A. Heller's 70-grade fastball, which nears 100 miles per hour, helped him become a reliable late-inning arm in the Indians system.

Another reliever, Feyereisen sported a 2.23 ERA with 56 strikeouts, which tied a career high, 20 walks and five saves in 33 appearances for the RubberDucks.

Kelsie Heneghan is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow her on Twitter @Kelsie_Heneghan.