Yankees: NYY Optioning Clint Frazier Isn’t a Good Sign for Young Slugger

The Yankees have optioned outfielder Clint Frazier.

The New York Yankees have an embarrassment of riches on their wildly talented roster and sadly Clint Frazier is typically the odd man out.

With a loaded outfield featuring Aaron Judge, Aaron Hicks, Brett Gardner and others, Frazier has only been able to find regular playing time when the team is decimated with injuries. And now, in a shortened season with everyone healthy, it’s going to be even more difficult.

That much was proven to be true after the Yankees optioned Frazier following Saturday night’s loss to the Washington Nationals.

No matter what way you look at this, it’s not a sign of good things to come for the 25-year-old, who is already off the 30-man roster after two games. Now, he’ll have to wait 10 days to be recalled, meaning he’ll miss the Yankees’ next 10 games.

If not for James Paxton’s disastrous outing, this probably wouldn’t have happened (since the Yankees now need more relievers to step up during Sunday’s bullpen game), but it’s still discouraging that guys like Miguel Andujar and Tyler Wade got the nod over him.

Though Wade is valuable with the new extra innings rule, he’s not going to see much playing time unless the game reaches that point or if the Bombers decide to rest one of Gio Urshela, Gleyber Torres or DJ LeMahieu … which isn’t entirely likely. Plus, Andujar would probably get the nod if Urshela gets a day off.

In a corresponding move, the Bombers have brought up top pitching prospects Nick Nelson and Brooks Kriske, both of whom showed great promise during Summer Camp. We could see one or both of them take the bump over the next couple of days since the bullpen will be pretty taxed with this weekend pretty much serving up two ‘pen games.

As for Frazier, it’s disheartening that we keep hearing about his lightning fast bat but won’t get to see it in action until (at the very least) the 13th game of the season. Here’s to hoping the young stud gets his chance in 2020.