The New York Yankees are making some roster moves while also trying to figure out which players will help them win their 28th World Series ring. Trying to make Friday’s 6 p.m. ET deadline, the Yankees had some decisions to make. The Yankees decided to designate Clint Frazier, Tyler Wade and Rougned Odor for assignment.
Clint Frazier
Clint Frazier was drafted by the Cleveland Indians as the fifth overall pick in the first round of 2013. He made his MLB debut on July 1, 2017 after the Yankees selected him from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders.
In Frazier’s first year, he played 38 games, having 134 at-bats, having 17 RBIs and hitting .231. Throughout his career, he has a batting average of .239, striking out 235 times, while slamming only 29 homers and hitting 169 times.
Although he has limited time playing in the playoffs, his numbers are quite different. Frazier batted a solid .286 in 2020 having two hits in seven at-bats with one home run. He did strike out five times.
Frazier has had his share of injuries as well. He was on concussion protocol and put on the 60-day DL in 2018 as well as being put on the IL in 2019 for a left ankle sprain. He was also put on the 10-day IL for vertigo. Because of his injuries and lack of production, the Yankees optioned him to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railraiders as well as sending him to rehab assignments to Somerset Patriots and Tampa Tarpons. Shortly after being activated from the IL again for vertigo on November 7, 2021, he was designated for assignment.
Tyler Wade
Image Courtesy of Alexander Wilson from empiresportsmedia.com
Tyler Wade was drafted in 2013 by the Yankees in the fourth round. He made his MLB debut on June 27, 2017 after the Yankees selected his contract from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders.
Wade had a rough year only batting .155 in 30 games. His OPS was at a sluggish .446. For his career, his batting average is .212 with 33 RBIs, 48 walks, 92 hits and 129 strikeouts.
Like Frazier, Wade only has playoff experience in 2020. In four games he has had no at-bats registered, but he does have a walk, as well as a run.
Rougned Odor
Rougned Odor was selected as the Texas Rangers Rookie of the Year in 2014 after making his MLB debut on May 8, 2014. He played 114 games with a .259 average. He tied for eighth in the A.L. in triples (7), fourth in RBIs (48), sixth in hits (100) and sixth in multi-hit games (23). Odor also was just the second Rangers rookie with seven or more doubles, triples and home runs in a season.
Odor was designated for assignment on April 1, 2021 when Yankees acquired him on April 6. The Yankees traded OF Josh Stowers and C Antonio Cabello to the Rangers for Odor and cash.
Looking at Odor’s career, he has a batting average of .234 with 899 strikeouts, 220 walks, 161 home runs, 497 RBIs, and 814 hits in 960 games. He has a lot more experience than Wade and Frazier, but he also has had some injuries.
Odor had been on the DL and IL several times throughout his career for the Rangers and the Yankees. Although he had some stellar numbers his rookie year, it is another case of lack of production mixed with injuries that haves led him to be designated for assignment.
The Yankees and Their Prospects
With Frazier, Wade and Odor gone, that leaves spots open for key players as well as some minor league prospects. According to Bryan Hoch of mlb.com, the Yankees acquired two 21-year-old prospects from the Philadelphia Phillies T.J. Rumfield and Joel Valdez in exchange for RHP Nick Nelson and C Donny Sands.
The Yankees also acquired IF Oswaldo Cabrera, RHP Ron Marinaccio, OF Everson Pereira, RHP Stephen Ridings and LHP JP Sears. Since the Yankees and Phillies swapped players, that allowed the Yankees to protect five prospects from the Rule 5 Draft. This is how they were able to acquire these other players and add to their 40-man roster.
The Yankees are doing their best to keep their options open as well as to get rid of guys they feel are taking up valuable positions. Since the Yankees designated Clint Frazier, Tyler Wade and Rougned Odor for assignment, was it the right thing to do by getting rid of them? Some may feel that was a mistake, but the Yankees are definitely looking to be back on top.
Featured Image Courtesy of nydailynews.com
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