The Yankees announced this afternoon that they’ve recalled outfielder Clint Frazier from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and designated right-hander David Hale for assignment in order to open a spot on the roster.
This’ll be the first big league stint for Frazier in 2018 after sustaining a concussion during Spring Training and spending the first few weeks of the season on the disabled list. He’s played in four games with Class-A Tampa and another 12 in Triple-A, raking at a .362/.423/.702 clip with three doubles, two triples and three homers in Scranton. He’ll add some additional depth in the outfield for a Yankees club and, for the time being, return the club to a 12-man pitching staff with the subtraction of Hale. His presence will also give the Yankees an additional bat on the bench for an upcoming NL series, which undoubtedly played a role in his promotion.
It’s the second time the Yankees have designated Hale for assignment this season. The 30-year-old inked a minor league pact with the Yankees this winter and was designated after tossing a pair of shutout innings on April 23 against the Twins. Once he hit waivers, it was actually Minnesota who claimed Hale, though the Twins were forced to DFA Hale themselves after just one rough appearance when their bullpen was stretched to thin levels by a series of rough losses. Hale wound up back with the Yanks on another minor league deal, had his contract selected once again, and allowed a pair of runs in three innings in yet another one-appearance stint with the Yankees last week.
What in hell is he going to do, warm the bench? This is ridiculous
Ya cause an extra bat off the bench when you don’t have a Dh is ridiculous
Hicks has played like crap, so he may be playing more than you think.
He’s getting called up for the NL series, Gardner will play CF obviously and Frazier will sit next to Hicks on the bench.
actually gardner sits againts gio
Where did you see the lineup?
Yep. Hicks in CF and leading off tonight.
I saw the line up with Gardner in CF
I just looked and it must have changed because now Hicks is in CF, my bad.
.362/.423/.702 is a lot of hitting. I mean a loooooot.
I don’t think warming the bench is what the Yanks have in mind for him. Hicks’ been struggling, so he’ll probably get a lot of his ABs. He’ll also get some of Gardner’s ABs. Gardy is better with plenty of rest, anyway.
Frazier was hitting .362, 3 HR’s, .423 OBP, 4 RBI, .702 SLG in 52 Triple-A Plate appearances. He deserved this call.
https://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=15983&position=OF
What happens when they’re done in Washington?
12 man staff should be more than enough. When Bird is ready, Austin goes down. When Bird goes back on the DL, Austin comes back up…
Weak cheepshot…
*cheap shot
F- on your troll. Surely you can do better.
lol I thought it was pretty funny and sadly probably true
Clearly some depth for the NL games coming up but does this mean Cashman is losing patience with Hicks?
we only have a 3 man bench now, and 8 relievers. Going to the most standard 4 man bench and 7 relievers.
He needs to play more over Hicks. The Hicks experiment needs an ending …
Why? Hicks is still valuable with the glove. Is Frazier even a natural CF?
No
He will get some of Hicks’ ABs. That doesn’t mean he’ll play CF. Gardner can play center field.
Gardner is struggling vs LH pitching this year. My guess is that they’ll load the lineup with righties vs Gio today.
Frazier/Hicks/Judge
Stanton at the DH
It’s in an NL park, so no DH.
Frazier isn’t a natural CF, but in the words of ESPN 98.7NY, or YES Network (forget which 1)
“Frazier may not be elite defensive OF but if becomes 4-tool player (fulfills his potential) would be better than most. fingers crossed 🙂
Pretty sure Clint Frazier is strictly a LF. How good his LF Defense is, remains to be seen.
Great move, this does 3 things, the Yanks outfielder Hicks and Gardner have been under performing, It gives Frazier another shot, and their is no need for Hale with 3 off days coming up. The Yanks need a better look at Frazier to decide whether they want to keep him or go after Harper next year.
He will probably serve as a pinch hitter in the upcoming series. Doubt hes replacing Hicks or Garnder, although he is most likely Gardners heir.
That’s Harper
You might get a lot of flak for this comment, but agree with you. I’d rather Harper than Machado if decide to open the vault. don’t expect them to, but want them to 🙂
I’d take either. Both are incredible and still young. Having said that, I’ve dreamed of Bryce Harper in pinstripes since the day he first covered Sports Illustrated as “Baseball’s Chosen One”
I think Cashman is looking for any reason imaginable NOT to have to pursue either Machado or Harper. Whoever signs them will enjoy a few years and most likely regret it towards the last few years. They already have Stanton and would probably want to extend Sanchez, Judge and Severino to long term deals too.
southbeach
thats a good point. they do need to save some money to keep the players they already have
Harper’s dad was a huge Mantle fan. All the networks have been covering how Harper admired Mickey’s career. Let’s hope his dad, who’s also a reported Yankees fan, influences him toward the Pinstripes.
I concur.
Harper is very injury prone. I would stay away from him. They already have committed to a 10 year overpaid DH in Stanton. They don’t need a $40 mil a year OF who can’t stay on the field, and is a hot head.
There’s not going to be a discount however.
I’d rather have Machado because he can play an elite 3B and a great SS. If Machado’s bat goes, he can still man the field in a hard-to-find position. Plus, Yankees don’t need more outfielders.
If Cashman gives anyone a contract for anything above $20 mil, it will be for no more than 5 years so that the contract is off the books when it’s time to resign Judge, Severino, Sanchez, and Torres (not to mention any other home grown talent that proves worthy of a long term contract). This eliminates both Machado and Harper. They will need a starting pitcher so I think that is where they will invest in the winter.
This could also be an early opportunity for the Yankees to showcase Clint Frazier before the summer trade deadline. However, if they are still looking for an upgrade at 1B it will take more than Frazier to pry Jose Abreu away from the White Sox.
Rick Hahn was very happy with the last summer’s acquisition of Blake Rutherford from the Yankees. The White Sox were lacking in left-handed hitting OF’s and Rutherford gave them one with the ability to also play CF. The organization is already stacked with right-handed hitting OF’s including future LF Eloy Jimenez and RF/CF Luis Robert. Micker Adolfo is another potential 4 or 5 tool talent who bats right-handed and has the arm to play RF.
If the Yankees truly want Abreu the conversation will likely have to start with top Yankee pitching prospect Justus Sheffield. The White Sox do have an abundance of top rated power arms in their system but only Carlos Rodon throws from the left side. Of course giving up premium pitching is not something the Yankees ought to consider so a deal for Abreu is not all that probable.
No they won’t. Pitching is what they need and want. White Sox will have to hope someone else takes him.
The White Sox aren’t hoping for some team to take Jose Abreu off their hands. They will only deal him if they are blown away with an offer.
I notice many Yankee fans have been pining for a leadoff hitter in the Bronx. Perhaps they should have considered overpaying for Adam Eaton when the White Sox were shopping him to jump start their rebuild. I’d be hard pressed to think of another current leadoff hitter who would have been a better fit in Yankee Stadium then “Spanky”. Unlike with the Nationals, perhaps Eaton could have stayed healthy in NY. Once he learned to respect the CF wall follow his first season in Chicago Eaton stayed on the field long enough to become their highest positional WAR player in 2015 and 2016, even exceeding the metrics of Abreu during that span.
Btw-The White Sox also have an abundance of arms in their system that may possibly interest the Yankees. They were happy to take three veteran relievers off of their hands just last summer. Maybe the Yankees would have interest in a couple more veteran pen pieces this summer like southpaw Luis Avilan and hard throwing righty Nate Jones.
Nope Yankees have enough good arms in their system and if they go after anyone by trade it will be a high-end starter. That was hilarious what you suggested about Eaton.
How so? Adam Eaton wouldn’t have been a better option than either Brett Gardner or Jacoby Ellsbury both offensively and defensively prior to the 2017 season while also playing on a controllable team-friendly contract?
First off you’re high if you think Eaton was a better option then Gardner, second the Yankees will never need to overpay like the Nats. Rutherford will never make the bigs, enjoy the luster that’s worn off.
Adam Eaton’s WAR with the White Sox from 2014-2016 at 25, 26 and 27 years of age: 5.3, 4.0, 6.1.
Brett Gardner’s WAR with the Yankees during the same span and at the ages of 30, 31 and 32: 3.9, 3.2, 3.4.
Big difference in the dollars they were earning also!
WAR is such a fallible statistic.
Especially when it doesn’t back you own argument. lol
Btw-There is nothing wrong with getting high once in a while, even for a 62-year old lifelong baseball fan like myself!
Why should the Yankees overpay anyone? They are stacked now and Stanton’s salary is going up.
Stanton’s salary may be going up, but his $22M luxury tax cap-hit stays consistent throughout. assuming he doesn’t exercise his opt out clause. So, even though he gets paid $32M annually year nine through eleven, Stanton’s annual luxury tax number is $22M
If you take into account the money the Marlins sent back(if he doesn’t opt out), his yearly salary is more than manageable. With the salaries that are coming off the books after this season, there should be enough for Harper and Corbin. Just imagine a team facing Judge-Harper-Stanton-Bird-Sanchez-Torres. I don’t care what anyone posts about younger this in that, that 2-7 is The Avengers Power, visions of 98.
Is Bird still in the discussion. Plus u left out Gregorius and Andujar my guy. I think they got after Harper for obvious reasons and look to flip Frazier for a first base who can stay on the field
The problem with that scenario is the Yankees do not need more power. They need a legit lead off man to replace Gardner’s speed. Frazier is more than capable to take over in LF and he will play for the league minimum. I was hoping they would chase someone like Pollock, but now he seems to be following Ellsbury down the injury road. Harper would be great in pinstripes but he is more of a luxury right now. Same with Machado. Their big signing next year needs to be a CF who can leadoff and steal bases. Hicks is too hit n miss and they traded Mateo. I guess they will still have Ellsbury for a few more years if they decide on one of the big bats instead.
They may also mix and match waiting for Florial to mature
Curious. What do you mean by hit or miss regarding Hicks?
Trouble that is, Florial is a 2 years away at the soonest.
dust44 If you’re addressing my post, Bird is indeed in there. I would most definitely not break up this run of bats with Didi, plus legitimately an 8-9 hitter here. I’m not even sure Andujar is still with the team next year.
Yanks could just bring up Frazier fir the two games against the Nats to be used for a pinch hitting role and be sent back down…We shall see!