Yanks Go Yard
FanSided

Yankees: Seven players fighting for a spot on the Opening Day roster this spring

By Mac Josephson

TORONTO, ON - JUNE 05: Clint Frazier #77 of the New York Yankees takes batting practice before the start of MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on June 5, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JUNE 05: Clint Frazier #77 of the New York Yankees takes batting practice before the start of MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on June 5, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
Yankees
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 15: Clint Frazier #77 of the New York Yankees bats during the first inning of game two of a double header against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium on May 15, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

OF Clint Frazier

For the second straight spring, Clint Frazier will arrive at Yankees camp knowing that he faces an uphill climb to earn a roster spot this spring. Last year it was because he was coming off a season plagued by concussion symptoms but this year it has more to do with being near the bottom of the outfield depth chart and his struggles defensively in 2019.

Frazier played a big role for the Yanks offensively during the first half of last season hitting .284 with 11 HR and 34 RBI, but after being sent down in June he didn’t return to the majors until rosters expanded in September. Part of the reason why was because there wasn’t a spot in the lineup for him to earn consistent playing time but it also probably had a lot to do with his performance in the outfield during his first stint.

To put it bluntly, Frazier wasn’t a major league caliber outfielder for the Yanks in 2019. He has a strong throwing arm but he was poor in every facet of defending his position and that includes overshooting the cut-off man a handful of times. His lack of accountability one Sunday night in the Bronx after his worst defensive showing of the season against Boston also didn’t help his cause. After botching three balls hit to him in a Yankee loss he refused to speak with the media after the game. He was sent down less than two weeks later.

Yankees need to play Clint Frazier in 2020 or trade him. light. Related Story

All offseason and prior to last year’s trade deadline Frazier’s name was included in multiple rumors but the Yankees held onto him because they couldn’t find a deal to their liking. Frazier will probably be on the block again this season especially if he starts the year in the minors, but the front office has shown that they’re not going to trade him just for the sake of getting rid of him.

Despite his lackluster defense, there’s no doubt he can hit at the major league level so he still has value and the Yankees know that. However, unless someone in the outfield gets injured this spring he’s going to have a very difficult time overtaking Mike Tauchman as the team’s fourth outfielder.

Tauchman is an elite defender who can play all three positions and he’s another left-handed bat so he’s a much better fit in that role.

Home/Yankees News