The New York Yankees banished outfielder Clint Frazier to the minor-league system after a string of aggressive responses towards beat reports and a flurry of defensive mishaps.
If there’s one thing for sure, it’s that the Yankees don’t tolerate drama or negativity from their players, and Frazier wound up being the example of that truth. Spending the last few months with the Scranton Wiles-Barre Railriders, the young offensive maestro has sat idly by waiting for his opportunity at the top level once again.
The question is:
Will the New York Yankees bring up Clint Frazier for the playoffs?
While his negativity towards his defensive struggles got him reassigned to the minors, he still has plenty of value to offer. His bat is one of the quickest in the league and can produce when called upon. However, he was replaced by both Cameron Maybin and Mike Tauchman, two journeyman players that have failed to make significant impacts throughout their careers.
The Yankees have managed to extract immense value from career-average players this season, and it has made Frazier a non-factor and justified their decision to imprison him at a lower level.
Over 53 games with the Bombers this season, Frazier has hit .283 with 11 homers, and 34 RBIs and an .843 OPS. Manager Aaron Boone stated that Frazier would likely be called up for a playoff push before the September 1 deadline.
“I think Frazier will probably be here, yeah,†manager Aaron Boone said.
While he’s not likely to earn much playing time, having his bat readily available is appropriate. Factoring in the injuries and fatigue, he’s a reliable option when it comes to plug-and-play players. Most figured that Frazier would have been traded before the traded deadline on July 31, but the fact that he stayed with the team says two things. Either general manager Brian Cashman couldn’t find a suitor for him, or the team feels he can be an essential piece for the future.
Nonetheless, he will likely be a part of Yankees active roster in just a few days.