New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone shared an update on Wednesday about the club’s off-field situation for the 2021 MLB season, while pitchers and catchers began reporting after the spring training. Boone told reporters: including MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch, that Clint Frazier is the Yankees starting left fielder entering the season.
“Clint deserved his place,” Boone said. Frazier, 26, appeared in 39 games for the Yankees in 2020. He played 28 of the games in the right field (while Aaron Judge was on the injured list), and the rest were left. He hit .267 / .394 / .511 (149 OPS +) with eight home runs and 26 RBIs during the shortened season. Frazier even garnered a surprising nomination for the Gold Glove in the right field.
The Yankees acquired Frazier from Cleveland by the 2016 deadline. Since joining the club, Frazier has been through a lot. He experienced tension in the New York media, missed almost the entire 2018 season due to concussion, had to work on his defense problems while in his minor years, transferred in 2019 for the big league promotion and started the season at Triple . A, and is regularly listed in potential trade rumors. But the young slave will now have the chance to prove his full potential as the Yankees everyday left-back in 2021.
“[Clint] continued to strengthen that he is a force and has gotten better and better, “Brian Cashman, general manager of the Yankees, told WFAN in January.” The past year is another proof of that. When he goes into this, he undoubtedly solidified as the man and he was a guy who was great to us. He took advantage of opportunities and improved everything.
“He was not a final product when we bought him, but he closes the gap on the ceiling. Now that his concussion was in the past, you see the real thing. He had a hell of a year and had to do a lot. “We are proud of him.”
The Yankees and 37-year-old fielder Brett Gardner have yet to reach an agreement, and it is unclear whether the veteran will return to the Bronx this season. Gardner, who would be the longest Yankee if he returns, has expressed interest in playing the 2021 season, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network. Gardner usually plays left field, but can also man center field. As for Giancarlo Stanton’s return, it is unlikely. At the end of the 2020 season, Cashman said that Stanton’s future with the Yankees is likely to be primarily as a designated player for the 2021 season.
The current Yankees outfield situation for 2021 will currently be:
The Tampa Bay Rays won the pennant in 2020, but the Yankees are the favorites to take back the division in 2021. New York ended the 60-game season with a record of 33-27 and was kicked off the extended post-season by the Rays in Game. 5 of the U.S. League Division Series.