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The Cubs are reportedly signing former Yankees outfielder Clint Frazier to a one-year contract according to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers.
Frazier, 27, was released by the Yankees earlier this offseason.
The Cubs are closing in on a 1 yr deal with Clint Frazier, source tells ESPN. Was released by the Yankees recently.
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) November 30, 2021
The right-handed hitting outfielder has a career .239/.3327/.434 slash line, hitting 29 home runs in 228 games since his debut in New York in 2017.
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Frazier’s addition to the Cubs is essentially a replacement of Michael Hermosillo, who signed a minor league deal with the team last year. Hermosillo crushed it at Triple-A and got a look with the Cubs at the end of the season. Unfortunately, Hermosillo was shut down because of an injury and it appears as though the Cubs have moved on from him.
FREE AGENT ALERT! I can CONFIDENTLY state Michael Hermosillo is a 5-tool impact player that has not had an opportunity for consistent play. GIVEN THE TRUE OPP HE WILL SHIIIIINE!!! #mlb #FreeAgent https://t.co/btR0sVwhzN pic.twitter.com/RQhj0yrGLL
— SMPLonnie (@SMPLonnie) November 30, 2021
As for Frazier, he struggled in 2021 with the Yankees, posting a .633 OPS in 66 games. However he has shown some flashes of above average play. In 2019, Frazier slashed .267/.317/.489, with 12 home runs in 69 games and then followed that season up with a .267/.394/.511 slash line in 2020, when he played in 39 games.
And while Frazier had a down year hitting, he continued to have solid walk numbers, posting a 14.7 BB% in 2021. Frazier has a 10.5 BB% in his career and has been slightly above average overall with a 105 wRC+.
It’s also worth pointing out that Frazier was dealing with vertigo in 2021, so that could be a factor in his struggles.
Frazier doesn’t have the defensive versatility that Hermosillo has, as Frazier has only started one game in center field throughout his career. Yet, Frazier does have a higher upside and provides the Cubs with more flexibility on their roster.
The Cubs and Clint Frazier have agreed to a one-year Major League deal, per source. @JesseRogersESPN was on it.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) November 30, 2021
Frazier has a minor league option left and if things go well he still has two years of arbitration remaining in 2023 and 2024. We’ll see if that ends up mattering following the new CBA.
