Hicks’ return could send Clint to minors

SEATTLE — Nobody knows when Aaron Hicks will come off the disabled list. But when all the Yankee outfielders are healthy, Clint Frazier will be the odd man out.

“Send Frazier out,’’ general manager Brian Cashman said via phone Thursday when asked how the outfield picture will unfold when Hicks returns. “But Hicks isn’t doing anything yet, so that is down the road.’’

Hicks hasn’t played since June 25 because of a right oblique injury that has been slow to heal.

As for Frazier, Cashman and manager Joe Girardi have been impressed with his play since getting called up.

“He has been great and earned everyday playing time,’’ Cashman said of Frazier, who wasn’t in the lineup Thursday night against Felix Hernandez.

“He has really played well. I think he has played well offensively, he has ran the bases well and played well defensively,’’ Girardi said of Frazier, who was hitting .298 (14-for-47) with three homers, eight RBIs and a .944 OPS. “He has been in right and left and we have asked him to move around. His at-bats have been really good.’’

Todd Frazier never had to ask Paul O’Neill if it was OK to wear No. 21 because it wasn’t up to O’Neill.

Frazier talked to clubhouse manager Rob Cucuzza about trading No. 29 for O’Neill’s Yankee number, but was told that wasn’t going to happen.

“I talked to some guys and 29 it is,’’ Frazier said before starting for the Yankees at third base and batting seventh Thursday night. “It’s a great num- ber [21] but it doesn’t bother me.’’

Frazier was assigned No. 21 when he broke into the big leagues with the Reds and that was the number O’Neill also wore for the Reds.

Since hitting his 30th homer July 7, Aaron Judge entered Thursday night’s action batting .152 (5-for-33). All five hits were singles and Judge has one RBI in those nine games (eight starts). In those 33 at-bats, Judge whiffed 14 times.

Perhaps having Wednesday off will help Judge, who did pinch hit and struck out.

After getting a full day of rest May 8, Judge batted .341 (30-for-88) with five homers, 13 RBIs and a 1.037 OPS in 25 games. He was off July 1 (he pinch hit) and in the next five games Judge batted .400 (8-for-20) with three homers, four RBIs and 1.355 OPS.