The plight of New York Yankees outfielder Clint Frazier remains a hot topic in the Bronx.
Frazier wasn't traded for big-league reinforcements on Wednesday, and he remains stuck in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre despite his .843 OPS in 209 big-league plate appearances. Questions were also raised about his poor outfield defense shortly before he was demoted, and Frazier was mentioned in almost every trade rumor involving the Yankees.
But manager Aaron Boone is adamant that, despite the perception being caused by leaving him in the minors, the team hasn't lost confidence in Frazier.
"I know some people thought he's fallen out of favor and we're sending him down there and trying to send a message. None of that's true," Boone told WFAN's Evan Roberts and John Jastremski on Thursday. "I mean, Clint has worked his butt off, he's obviously played an important role for our team, and when that right spot, or situation, opens up, where he can become a regular player for us, then he very much gets back into that conversation."
Frazier struggled at the plate immediately after being demoted, but he's now recovered, slashing .288/.344/.559 with four homers and four doubles since July 15.
Still, when several injuries forced the Yankees' hand, they called on Mike Tauchman (who's been red hot lately), Tyler Wade, and Breyvic Valera instead.
New York did get chances to deal him on Wednesday, turning down the Arizona Diamondbacks' proposal of Frazier and three other prospects for left-hander Robbie Ray, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported shortly before the deadline.
Boone still wholeheartedly believes that Frazier's time in the Bronx will come. He'll almost certainly be back as a September call-up if no spot opens before then. For now, however, his absence is purely circumstantial.
"The last time we called Tauchman up it was kind of a decision between him and Frazier, and Fraz had been struggling a little bit down there at the time, and we were in need more of a backup outfielder," the manager said. "Tauchman kind of fills that role a little bit better."
"We have a lot of really good players that are more suited probably for some certain roles based on the time and place of the season," Boone added.
