Clint Frazier was seen as the Opening Day left fielder for the Yankees in 2021, seemingly earning his role as an everyday player after battling for playing time for the past four seasons.
But Frazier has already seen his playing time decline, being sat three of the last five games in favor of Brett Gardner, including in the Yankees’ last game, a 5-4 loss to the Blue Jays.
Has Frazier already lost his grip as the regular starter in left field. Manager Aaron Boone told Carton & Roberts to pump the brakes on that speculation, though didn’t say that Frazier is locked in as the consistent starter.
“Clint Frazier is still going to play a ton for us,” Boone said. He is pretty much the everyday left fielder. We happen to have a fourth outfielder in Brett Gardner who is going to play a lot for us.”
Gardner returned to the Yankees late in the offseason for his 14th year in pinstripes, expected to continue to be a mentor for Frazier as he settled into the starting role. But Frazier struggled at the plate to start the season while Gardner made the most of his opportunities, batting .353 with a .947 OPS and two doubles in 22 plate appearances from April 1 to April 11. He’s batting .286 with an .804 OPS overall on the season, while Frazier is batting just .200 with a .561 OPS.
Those trends coupled with the recent shifts in playing time have raised questions from reporters and now Carton & Roberts whether Frazier is seen as the everyday starter anymore.
“Obviously people have been asking me a lot about Frazier lately,” Boone said. “The reality is he’s started nine of 12 games, I sat him two games in a row where I felt he was scuffling a bit and Gardy was on a good little run. I guess I understand the question, but let’s ask it a month or six weeks from now and see what the body of work looks like and the regularity works like.”
With Frazier sitting two straight games against the Rays this past weekend and again on Wednesday, those who want to see the former coveted prospect in consistent action have grown frustrated with the lineup construction, particularly after Frazier put up a career-best .905 OPS in 39 games last season.
But Boone downplayed Frazier’s days off as little to do with being a sign of what’s to come.
“It was more I sat him back-to-back days in Tampa, and that was more wanting to give him a day…and I liked the matchup with Gardy a couple days in a row in there getting him in there…not much more than that,” Boone said.
The season is still early, but if the current trends continue, Gardner could eat even more into Frazier’s playing time. But according to Boone, Frazier is still going to get plenty of looks.
“Frazier is going to play a ton,” Boone said. “He’s going to get to raking and be a big part of this team.”
Listen to Boone's full interview with Carton & Roberts below!
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