Last night, the Yankees announced they optioned outfielder Clint Frazier and right-handed reliever Ben Heller to their alternate training site. The club plans to bring right-handers Nick Nelson and Brooks Kriske up to the active roster in their stead. They’ll add a pair of fresh arms to a pitching staff that saw James Paxton work just one-plus inning in Saturday’s loss to the Nationals.
So continues Frazier’s repeated journeys on and off the big league roster. The onetime top prospect has been decent offensively, albeit with some high-profile defensive issues, when he’s gotten MLB opportunities (career .254/.308/.463 line in 429 plate appearances). Still, he’s had a hard time cracking a loaded Yankees outfield.
Due to his immense power potential, the 25-year-old has long been rumored as a potential trade candidate. Thus far, the organization has expressed little interest in giving him up. Given the club’s competitive outlook, though, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see his name floated in rumors again this season. Yesterday’s demotion doesn’t suggest the organization has soured on Frazier long-term, but it does underscore the difficulty for him in carving out an immediate, significant role in the Bronx.
Nelson and Kriske, meanwhile, will each make their MLB debut if/when they get into a game. Each posted strong strikeout and run prevention numbers in Double-A in 2019, albeit with slightly elevated walk rates.
There goes Clint “Can’t Miss Because He’s a Yankees Prospect” Frazier
Ah, brainiac….he was a Cleveland 1t round draft pick and this “prospect” who was included in a trade to the Yankees….all the can’t miss hype was originated in Cleveland….but accuracy and fact isn’t nearly as important to you as denigrating the Yankees any way you can obviously!
Doesn’t matter who drafted them or how the Yankees acquired them.
If they’re a highly ranked prospect in the Yankees system, like Frazier was, fans over hype them.
Many Yankee fans overhyped Sheffield before he was included in the Paxton deal and then did a 180 saying he isn’t that good.
The Yanks should have traded him 2 years ago. His stock is going down and down. His is a future platoon 4th or 5th outfielder. They should trade Andujar now while they need pitching before his stock falls to a PTBNL in a trade.
I remember when the Yankees overhyped Mickey Mantle. Ron Guidry, Willie Randolph and that Jeter kid. I was just reading how they hyped that bum Gehrig.
I remembered when they hyped clint frazier , brien taylor ,kevin maas , kei igawa ,Hideki irabu ,greg bird ,Steve balboni ,andre Robertson, bobby meachem ,austin romine ,manny banuelos ,kevin mmehamet ,and to some extent bobby murcer
I remember when the other NY team hyped Paul Wilson, Bill Pulsipher, Rey Ordonez, Kaz Matsui, Ike Davis, Eduardo Alfonso, Todd Hundley, Lee Mazzilli, Steven Matz, Fernando Martinez, Scott Kazmir, Lastings Milledge and of course Gregg Jeffries. So yeah it’s only the Yankees that over hype their prospects.
Four of those were all stars unlike the yankees i listed. Ordonez talked his way out of ny then baseball itself..pulsipher did play about 20 yrs even though most of it was independent ball..millege is still playing , jefferies played about 15 yrs..martinez sucked and was a roid guy too. Matz is still playing.so basically every met you named except for 1 or 2 has and still are playing longer than every yankee i listed….plus we can go on about this with every team…remember the hype of DAVID NIED?,or JOE CHARBENEAU , DANNY AINGE ,SAM HORN, MIKE DARR( died in a car accident),
“JOLTING JOE CHARBENEAU”
He was from Santa Clara, Calif
Mercer was J. DiMaggio 2.0 if you listened to the hype.
I’m a Mets fan. Lastings Millage, Fernando Martinez, Paul Wilson, the list goes on and on. Every team has these prospects.
Iamhector24 I have never ever had a problem with what millege did after that home run. Big deal he high fived a fan running down the line when he was taking the field…because he was a guy in the league a week he cant do that?.. he kissed the fans asss, wanted him to be like bonds and all the other jerks mlb had? ( If no one knows what im talking about millege hit a game tying hr in the bottom of the 9th. .media crucified him for high fiving the fan saying he wasnt a star to do that).. i used to collect autographs at shea, i can tell you who was great and a jerk
who cares? the mets will ALWAYS be second fiddle, period. the difference is those busts set the mets back, the yankees just reloaded. cool story though. you remember when the yankees beat the mets in the 2000 world series? how glorious was it to see the mets crack under pressure to one of best dynasties all time in baseball? #27TimeWorldSeriesChamps
They also had an unfair advantage being the Yankees were loaded with steroid abusers.
Slam!
The question is whether Frazier or Miguel Andujar—who is in Sunday’s lineup v Washington—will get a fair shot at replacing 37 year old Brett Gardner, who may be in decline.
Gardner had a very productive year last year. His defense is still good. Frazier should be traded now for some pitching before he is just a throw in a trade offer.
Unfortunately for the Yankees, I am sure they will not trade him because they know they will not get anything near the type of return for him that Yankee’s fans will expect.
Yes, because Gardy’s option most likely to get declined
Where is Mr. “ Frazier is a former first round pick ( 3rd overall) that is only 25 years old.” Where are you at @DubsDynasty? @27ringsbitches What happened to your boy?
Just trade him already. Feel sorry for the guy
Why? He isn’t as impressive as he and Yanks’ fans think.
Other teams want him and would play him.
That’s all he needs
LOL
Why? Because he’s a desired commodity that obviously has no place on the current logjam that is the Yankee’s roster and other teams desire a bat with upside and a low salary.
YOu’ll never get the wave of Yankee haters to admit to any skills this guy possess’ and might show if/when he plays somewhere else….
When given a chance and given the at bats. Frazier would definitely help someone
Yes, Frazier could help any team in the majors If he plays everyday
If he had skills, why did they go get hicks and stanton?
He has so many skills. Obviously defense isn’t one of them. Hicks is a excellent defender. And Jeter gave the Yanks a gift of Stanton for basically nothing
Yeah gift lol.
Over-priced gift…lol
Low BA, low OBP, possible big power (unproven) and a butcher on defense. Yeah, those guys are rare!
Exactly. The Yanks created the logjam he’s facing.
Red Sox fan. Huge Yankee hater. Hope Frazier gets traded and plays HOF caliber baseball for the rest of his career.
Never say never.
Trade value is dropping with every passing day.
Same till he was a child last year has to learn to catch.
Minor League Stint Clint
5th overall pick from 2013. shows they all don’t work out. 7th overall pick was a total bust from that draft as 1st a pitch, then tried to make it as an OF (Trey Ball). It’s guessing sometimes and lots of hope.
Much more often a crap shoot rather than a certainty!
Should have done a straight up deal with White Sox for Carson can’t find the plate Fulmer
No Yanks have enough power arms in their bullpen. Carson Fulmer is not needed by the Yankees
He has worked out. Not Joe Dimaggio, so get rid of him. Idiots.
This guy has a legitimate big league power bat.
He needs to DH full time somewhere. He’s this generations Edgar Martinez.
The Mets could put him in LF next season. His low numbers were due from the early part of his career.
He’s a huge trade chip.
He was a huge trade chip. Probably still could get a good reliever for him
No please not wanting to see Fraz becoming a star across town. That would suck!
Mets have conforto,nimmo,davis,smith, why would we need an often injured guy who didnt play when the whole yankee outfield was hurt?
Often injured? He had a concussion from making a play and crashing into the wall. What else happened to him?
The Mets already have a much better version of Frazier in LF. His name is JD Davis. He hits roughly 50 points higher with his BA and over 100 points higher with his OPS. He also cannot play defense, yet he has a much, MUCH better bat. He still can’t crack the starting lineup, because of his defense. Get it?
Holy duck poop! Clint Frazier is the LAST thing the Mets need. As someone else already pointed out, they already have JD Davis, who is a better version of Clint, and he’s in a bit of a crunch to get playing time.?
25 year old mediocre outfielder. Potential? Sure. Nothing special though.
We call them DHs.
Frazier could become a 1B/DH and have a stellar career.
Let him play everyday before we start judging him. Geez!
He’s no Shane Spencer !
Yeah he’s better then Shane Spencer
Youre right. Hes jim spencer
Remember when Yankee scouts compared him to Trout? Lmfao
C’mon nobody is Trout. They compared Austin Meadows to Trout to remember? Meadows much better then Frazier obviously.
Clint “Yo Yo’ Frazier…
Maybe after the season, Frazier back to Cleveland in a Lindor package.
Yankees don’t have the prospects Cleveland would want in a Lindor trade.
If the Indians are trading Lindor they’re going to want MLB ready players and retool instead of rebuild.
Frazier fits the bill, as a 3rd or 4th piece.
Indians would want a near mlb or at mlb replacement for Lindor to headline the package and a secondary piece like a pitcher who’s also MLB ready.
Doubt they’d want prospects couple years away cause then they’d be wasting years on their pitchers.
Yankees don’t need Lindor unless they would prefer to let Le Mahieu walk so that Gleyber can return to 2nd.
Not true. D.J would stay and play lst. Lindor would play short. And Gleyber would go back to 2nd. Maybe a trade next season if Cleveland falls out of contention? If not just wait for Frankie’s free agency
If Lindor is traded it will likely be next season. Even a bad year for the Indians their still likely a playoff team. 30-30 would get them in.
No Cleveland, not trading Lindor. Their a playoff team for sure.
He’s never gonna get real playing time on the Yankees, just gonna get bounced around. There’s a reason his nickname is Clint “Major League Stint” Frazier.
Frazier is overvalued. He’s a good power hitter in a small park. Put him in Baltimore, Boston, Cincinnati, Colorado and he is a 30 homer guy. Time to trade him.
Come on Yankees. Just trade him for whatever you can get for him. He’s almost 26 years old and hasn’t gotten an actual long look at the majors.
They should. I understand wanting depth, but the longer they hold him, the older he gets. His value is going to begin to decline, especially as they burn up his options.
Depth shouldn’t be a 26-year-old who was a former top 30 prospect a few seasons ago. This is completley unfair to Frazier.
Frazier might hurt you in the field. But has a great power bat. Somebody out there is going to get a good player.
Yanks are not going to trade him unless they get a Robbie Ray or Matthew Boyd back or something like that
Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way
Frazier needs to be traded to a rebuilding club such as the Giants to get the playing time. He’ll never get that in NY.
I feel Frazier needs to play everyday. San Francisco would definitely give him the opportunity to do that. Sounds great for him
Based on the Pirates current OF I wouldn’t mind seeing them take a chance on him. We have spots open at C, backup C, 2B, SS, DH and in the OF. I’m sure they could find a spot for him. Haha
I wouldn’t mind Atlanta taking a chance on him in a trade. I know they’ve already picked up some DH/OF type options, but I think they could slot Frazier in at DH this year and just let him run with it.
Frazier is a talented dude. He’s just in a tough spot, because that NYY outfield is deep.
Atlanta has a bevy of young pitching, and there aren’t enough rotation spots. Plus they seem insistent on having a veteran arm occupy one of those spots.
Obviously Ian Anderson would be off the table. I think it’d be worth discussing a trade built around a different young arm, though.
Atlanta would be the perfect place for Frazier. Since he’s from there. Yanks could take a lower level prospect or 2 for him
I wouldn’t mind seeing him in the ATL If the price is right
Your so loaded. I’d take Wilson Contreras brother back and a minor league pitcher with some upside at this point. He would be really good for Atlanta.
I’d deal Contreras and Huascar Ynoa for Frazier without a second thought. The Braves are deep in RHP; and with Langeliers in the system, Contreras is a loss they could absorb.
The Yankees probably would do that. Unless the Tigers offered then Michael Fulmer instead
How good is Ynoa as a pitcher? Yanks might need someone else besides Contreras
He’s got excellent stuff. He can hit 95mph on the radar gun, and has came close to 100 mph in his shorter relief outings. His biggest issue is his command, like many of the Braves young pitchers. If he harnesses it, he’ll be a rotation piece somewhere. If not, he’s probably destined to be a RP. He’s got time, though.
@Outlaw. I could get behind that for Frazier. Trading for the guy is difficult because the package has to show the risk as well as the talent of Frazier and I think your suggested package does both. The only caveat to this is, he is playing in the majors right now and could drive up his value with a good showing.
Thanks. Yeah, he’s a tricky guy to imagine a deal for. He has talent at the plate, and there is some potential there- so even if he is blocked, it’s hard to see NY just giving him away.
In some ways though, I think Ynoa’s situation is going to mirror that. The Braves have a plethora of young arms, and they’re all coming soon. Anderson is the only prospect I have total confidence in. The rest will be a crapshoot.
I feel it makes sense to swap both guys into places they’ll have a greater chance.
You’re right though, Frazier’s perceived value could rise very easily. I think a good deal has to make sense for both teams. If someone else tops that, so be it. To the victor go the spoils.
No field Frazier not even mediocre. He can’t catch a ball.. Can’t run routes. Horrible.
Pick any Pirates starting pitcher, straight up. He can DH in Burgh. Or he could stand around in RF like Polanco.
Yanks might do that
It’s funny when Frazier’s name is brought up how many “Indian trolls“ are on here. It’s obvious to me if he’s traded they would definitely have interest in getting him. I’m sure they would offer the Yankees nothing for him.
I feel if the Tigers offered Michael Fulmer to the Yankees in a trade for Clint Frazier. The Yanks would likely do it. Fulmer Is just coming off TJS
This has reached Billy Martin vs. Ken Holtzman type levels.
Jays need to trade for him
“Brandon Drury 2“ again? If Aaron is the Judge then Brandon’s the Drury
For whom, and where would he play? The DH spot should remain open for Vlad. Gurriel has LF for now. Don’t see a fit here.
He is all hit no field type who would fit on any number of rebuilding teams. Yanks need to try to get a decent pitching prospect for him.
Lotta mixed reviews on Frazier. Uh?
Now, I’m not saying that the young man is a future HOFer. But he does have value.
His bat plays. I don’t think a lot of folks will argue with that.
Also, he has the tools to be a serviceable outfielder. He’s not battling a serious – perhaps unfixable – problem a la Andujar (lack of range). His arm, speed, & athleticism are all good enough that he really *should* be able to hold his own with the leather.
I’ve seen him play the last few seasons. (Saw him play live against the Twins – he was looking at scouting reports between pitches…i took that as a good sign) I think the concussion he suffered had a pretty big impact on him in the field last year. Just in terms of getting comfortable again.
At some point someone will give him a chance. It may happen in the Bronx still. I’d wager that he’ll be a solid MLB player, man.
Just watch.
I absolutely agree with you
I feel so bad for this kid
He’ll be alright. Yanks should of not re-signed Gardy. And had Tauchman/Frazier/Andujar all platooning in left. With Andujar playing at 3rd twice a week giving Gio a rest.
All jokes aside.. Frazier knows he is Gardy’s replacement when he decides to hang it up. I hope Frazier will continue to be a good sport and not turn into a prima donna. He can hit for power, bat speed is phenomenal, just needs to work on fielding. Worst case scenario is to have Frazier at DH with Judge, Hicks, and Stanton in the outfield.
Definitely
Georgie to give Billy Beane a call for A’s price lefty Manaea. Oakland will listen to a package of Frazier, Sikkema, Florial, Dominguez and Garcia, period…
Makes sense. Everyone’s healthy, and the DH/LF depthchart is crowded. Not sure how Clint could compete with the likes of Judge, Stanton, Andujar, Sanchez and Gardner for ABs from the DH and corner outfield spots.
Perhaps when the field thins out, Clint can go out and wear his silly mask in the outfield…to pretend to protect himself from a disease with a 0.01 mortality rate among people his age, that everyone in the ballpark is regularly tested for on top of it.
Frazier will get a chance sometime, somewhere. Right now, I just feel fortunate to have a bat like that waiting in the wings.
Bet Cashman feels the same.
Just like I’m not much of a fan of anyone trying to tell me things like when I can leave my house and what I should wear when I do, I’m also an advocate of personal choice. If he wants to wear a mask that’s cool. I see absolutely no reason to disparage him about his *personal* choice.
Uh?
I think there’s no reason to be jumping from one extreme to the other. I think a nice middle of the road is where everyone’s free to make their own personal choices, and everyone else is free to ridicule them for those choices.
Eh?
Lol
Well, ok then.
Ceg is right Gardy shouldn’t of been resigned. The problem is they have very few lefty hitters. They should of kept Didi. They need to make a 4 for 1 type deal. Players like Frazier, Andujar, shouldn’t be playing a few times a week. They need regular playing time. They probably should of traded Frazier,Andujar, Garcia, etc a few years ago originally for Cole and probably won a WS.
@nyyfan. What kind of package would you think appropriate for Frazier, Andujar and Garcia? Myself as an outsider (I’m a Braves fan) this package is certainly talented but also enormously risky.
This package MIGHT be two DH’s and a pitching prospect who’s height and weight scare the sauce out of me. If the Braves told me to put a package together for these three players, I don’t think it would work because I would recognize the legitimate talent in the package but the risk would out weigh that and so my package wouldn’t be enough.
Not trying to be combative. That’s just my perspective but I really am curious what a package you think is worth those three players.
You are exactly right SalaryCap, I think the most accurate description of the three are two players that ARE DHs and a pitcher that might end up as a reliever due to his size. There is a great deal of risk with the three. Of course, Cegmyster and many other Yankee fans think that those three are great enough to get another team’s best player or players.
Cegmyster was just saying a few days ago that Frazier, Andujar and Garcia is worth Francisco Lindor.
Right now, the Yankees have
a. a lot of star players, and
b. really good depth
Somehow, I don’t see them trading all their top depth pieces for another star player. That would be silly. Especially in an age where catching a cold means you’re out for a month.
It may not seem like it right now, but trust me: all those guys you listed as “not needed” are going to play a role on this team at some point in the next 15 months.
@stansfield. I don’t know what “going to play a role on this team in the next 15 months” actually means. That is far to broad to indicate their real cieling.
Also, your statement to trust you doesn’t really belong here. I don’t even go to church. =D Okay, please forgive that comment. Just a joke. But a lot of posters here have a very deep knowledge of baseball so maybe you can go a deeper than that?
@Javia. I don’t want to speak badly of someone not around to defend their view but if that is really what he thinks, I would certainly hope the Braves wouldn’t take such a crazy risk.
I imagine Frazier’s nightly prayers involve being traded. Whether he is good or bad I don’t think we will ever know until he is given a regular opportunity. Last year he posted an .806 OPS on a part time basis. That’s not sexy but it’s certainly productive enough to make me wonder if he can do more.
I know his glove holds him back but obviously other teams could utilise him much more than the Yankees. I can also see why the Yankees aren’t motivated to trade him unless their price tag (whatever that might be) is met. Having a bat on-call that can pop 25ish home runs on something like 500 AB’s with exceptable contact numbers is a luxury. What are other teams actually going to offer for that; A league average relief pitcher, an average utility player or two or a couple lottery ticket prospects?
Frazier is kind of screwed because he has this perfect middle place of being productive enough to be interesting but not tantalizing enough to be traded for while he plays on a team that has a very deep line up. His future might very well be as a DH and an emergency fill in for the outfield which hurts his trade value a lot.
Perfectly stated SalaryCapMyth!
@salary I meant a few years ago traded those 3 players. There is no chance Yankees get anything for those 3 now. The Yankees always over react when they łose out on first choice. They lost on Othani and grabbed Stanton. The move at the time was Yelich instead. Frazier would look good with Mets in left field.
The Mets have JD Davis in LF. Much, MUCH better offense and the same defense. Why do crazy Yankee fans keep thinking that the Mets would want anything to do with Frazier in LF? I mean, Davis even has the ability to play 3B. Does Frasier?
I really like JD Davis. He just does whatever the team asks him to and works hard.
When the Astros sent him down, he worked harder. When the Mets asked the thirdbaseman to play left out of necessity, he took his lumps, way out of his comfort zone while in the NY media, and worked harder to improve. The guy just works, ya gotta love players like that, not criticize them.
The Mets don’t need to trade for Frazier. They need a lot more help than Frazier.
Frazier wouldn’t start for the Mets any more than he does for the Yankees. He is superfluous.
Can’t field, might be a decent hitter, waaaaaaay over- hyped
In what baseball world/roster does Clint Frazier lose his spot on the roster for Brooks Kriske? Lol
In a world where Paxton doesn’t do his job and last two days Yankees have to use too many relievers. Blame Cashman for not getting Corbin two years ago. Main problem is Yankees can’t develop their own starting pitchers. Mets best lineup has JD at third, McNeil at second, platooning Cano/Cespedes at DH. I think Mets need a left fielder you could do a lot worse than Frazier who desperately needs a change of scenery.
It’s a shame what there doing to a 25 year old prospect ! When the Yankees don’t like you they give you the royal shaft that’s how the Yankees roll…….. (sit Gardner down now)