Red Sox scooped by Yanks

The morning was a scramble. With a Wednesday matinee game that would start at 12:10 p.m. local time, the Yankees’ equipment manager, Rob Cucuzza, and Target Field’s visiting clubhouse manager, Jason Lizakowski, rushed to prepare lockers and uniforms for Todd Frazier, David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle, all of whom had been acquired by the Yankees from the Chicago White Sox late the night before.

Cucuzza and Lizakowski had more time than they thought. The flight the three players took out of Chicago was delayed. As a result, Frazier, Robertson and Kahnle did not appear in the Yankees’ dugout until after Wednesday’s game had started.

They arrived in time to watch the Minnesota Twins pound Yankees starter Jordan Montgomery for six runs in the second inning, the last three coming on a long home run by Miguel Sano. Not much happened after that.

The final score was 6-1, Twins, although Frazier and Kahnle eventually got into the game. Kahnle pitched a perfect inning of relief. Frazier struck out as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning, took over at third base and was hit in the hand with a pitch in the ninth, although he stayed in the game.

“No worries,” he said afterward, his hand encased in ice. “Just being cautious.”

The loss meant the Yankees dropped two of three games here to a Twins team they may well end up battling in September for an American League wild-card berth. If they do, Frazier will probably be a central figure for the Yankees as a power-hitting infielder. Robertson and Kahnle are likely to be important, too, as strong arms out of the bullpen.

In a conference call with reporters, General Manager Brian Cashman said he had been in discussions with the White Sox for weeks, but initially about starting pitcher Jose Quintana, who was ultimately dealt to the Chicago Cubs. The talks then turned to Frazier and some White Sox relievers. Throughout, Cashman said, the White Sox were especially keen on Blake Rutherford, 20, the Yankees’ 2016 first-round draft pick, who has hit well in his two minor league seasons, most recently with Class A Charleston.

“He was the centerpiece of this concept from the White Sox’ end,” Cashman said.

“It was tough to deal Blake,” Cashman added. “He’s a producer, with a high ceiling and great makeup. But we traded from an area of strength, which is outfield depth.”

The final pieces of the deal, Cashman said, came together in the last 48 hours. The owner Hal Steinbrenner of the Yankees approved taking on about $23 million in prorated salary between this season and next. The 32-year-old Robertson, who played with the Yankees from 2008 to 2014, is owed much of that money, with $13 million coming in 2018 to conclude a four-year contract.

The 31-year-old Frazier has a $12 million contract this season and then will become a free agent.

In addition to Rutherford, the trade cost the Yankees reliever Tyler Clippard and two additional prospects — the left-hander Ian Clarkin, a first-round pick in 2013, and outfielder Tito Polo.

Frazier is primarily a third baseman with some experience at first. Girardi said he would leave Frazier at third and move Chase Headley to first, a position that has been vexing for the Yankees this season. Headley has made just 14 career appearances there (including four this year) and said he did not even own a first baseman’s glove.

“I always got one in spring training but gave it away,” he said. “Now I’ve got to get one for real.”

Whatever Headley’s learning curve at first base, the bigger question is whether Frazier can regain the prowess that made him a two-time All-Star in Cincinnati. Last year, Frazier slugged 40 home runs and had 98 R.B.I. for the White Sox, but his average fell to .225. It has dropped even further this season, to .207; he also has 16 home runs and 44 R.B.I.

“It’s not where I want to be, to be honest with you,” Frazier said of his 2017 season. But he said he was exceedingly happy to be joining the Yankees and having a chance to play in the New York area. Frazier was raised in Toms River, N.J.

“Who could ask for a better scenario?” he said.

Frazier said that he idolized the Yankees’ Paul O’Neill when he was growing up and that he would ask O’Neill, now a Yankees broadcaster, if he could wear his No. 21, which Frazier wore with the Reds and the White Sox. With the Yankees, No. 21 technically remains in circulation, but it has not been issued since 2008, when reliever LaTroy Hawkins wore it to honor Roberto Clemente.

Fans rebelled, booing Hawkins, and he switched to No. 22. On Wednesday, Frazier wore No. 29.

The other Frazier in the Yankees’ clubhouse, outfielder Clint Frazier, needed a new number after surrendering his No. 30 to Robertson. His choice: No. 77, which he wore Wednesday.

In spring training, Clint Frazier denied having asked about wearing Mickey Mantle’s retired No. 7, a rumor that had created a brief social media commotion. On Wednesday, Frazier again denied any connection to Mantle, saying instead that he was impressed when he noticed Dustin Fowler wearing No. 77 in spring training.

“I liked how his number looked,” Frazier said. He said he was also influenced by the fact that Aaron Judge, the Yankees’ right fielder and pre-eminent slugger, wears No. 99.

Or as Frazier put it, “Judge wears 99, so go with something like 77 and hope someone else picks 88 in the outfield.”