Reports: D-backs’ Robbie Ray asking price too high for Yankees

While the Diamondbacks made a couple moves at Wednesday’s deadline, there are always the things that could have been.

And according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale and others, Robbie Ray being a New York Yankee was discussed between the two teams.

But, as Nightengale told 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s Bickley & Marotta, the sides were too far apart when it came to a price for the D-backs starter.

“The Diamondbacks were asking for some good prospects,” he said. “And I’m sure Clint Frazier, maybe some more. And the Yankees balked at it. So as of this morning, the Yankees pulled completely out of it and said, ‘We’re done.'”

That was confirmed by MLB Network’s Jon Heyman.

Dbacks asked the Yankees for Clint Frazier plus 3 prospects for Robbie Ray. That’s not happening. Sides very far apart @BNightengale called talk dead

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 31, 2019

Frazier is a 24-year-old outfielder who was acquired by the Yankees in the Andrew Miller trade with the Indians in 2016. Once a top prospect, Frazier is hitting .283/.330/.513 with 11 home runs in 53 games this season.

Heyman also added another name the D-backs asked for from the Yankees.

Dbacks asked Yanks for Clarke Schmidt along with Frazier plus more in Ray talks

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 31, 2019

Schmidt is a 23-year-old pitcher with the Yankees who is ranked fifth in their system by MLB.com.

The price for Ray, combined with other concerns, was just too high according to Nightengale.

“I think their fear with Robbie Ray was, if he only goes five innings, and he’s at 100 pitches in the NL West, what in the world will happen in the AL East?” he said. “Will he only last two-to-three innings? It’s just such a big difference pitching in the AL East compared to the NL West.”

Ray has a 3.91 ERA with a 114 ERA+ in 23 starts this season with Arizona.