Clint Frazier Is Here To Save The Cubs
FORMAL LEGAL DISCLOSURE: "Clint" is a 1st ballot hall of fame name that exclusively belongs to apex predators of the human species
I've heard so many people say Clint Frazier sucks in the field which probably means he really sucks in the field. Let's get that out of the way. Be prepared for Yankees fans to hammer the E7 button repeatedly on twitter. That's all anybody wants to say about Clint Frazier which is actually pretty glaring. I honestly cannot remember the last MLB outfielder that struggled with catching a routine flyball. There's so many other difficult requirements that can tank a promising career, like barreling 91mph sliders and developing opposite field power. It's such a demanding game to master professionally that it's nothing short of Pure Comedy to me that Clint Frazier sucks at catching flyballs. That's a reputation you earn.
In other news, Clint Frazier posted a 124 OPS+ from 2018-2020 in about 450 plate appearances. I wish it was a bigger sample size for a 3-season period to get a better feel but we'll make do with what we have. Nice thing is he matches up pretty evenly against righties and lefties traditionally with a slight advantage on the same side. That means he doesn't necessarily profile as a platoon which is exactly how the Yankees used him. There's something lurking if you can get regular playing time in a positive environment that asks very little of Clint Frazier defensively. Put that recipe together and I think he could be one of those weird guys that comes out thumping.
Strategically it's a one year deal which perfectly aligns with this whole "We're not rebuilding but we're totally rebuilding" identity that nobody from the Cubs wants to admit. Don't worry I'll do it for you. Unless there's $35M/year for Carlos Correa or something similar for KB that nobody knows about, this is essentially the path we're walking in 2022. Historically at this juncture I'm pretty adept at identifying things as getting better or worse and this year feels no different. Smells like things are getting worse in the short-term. Please try to remember that's okay in the long-run. I know patience will be rewarded again because there's too much juice to fail. We're all figuring this out together. Stay strong.
In the meantime, there's a huge positive to me looking at the Cubs moves. They're right in line with what I want to see at this phase. Here's the full kitchen sink on the process:
Point is there's basically two major prongs you need to attack before you hit Free Agency to me. The first is draft and international minor leaguers. The next is a category of failed prospects/has-beens/burnouts/guys just needing a chance. We have a couple on the roster now that everybody loves in Patrick Wisdom and Frank Schwindel. Stocking these guys up can lead to a gold mine of depth and talent. The Dodgers do an amazing job with both prongs. The Cubs recently have not and they need to buy in to both areas hard.
Clint Frazier is clearly in that group on a short term deal that should basically represent a lifeline for his career. Guy has all world talent and tools, just needs to consistently put it together. No offense to the Yankees but they're literally the worst club for a guy like Clint Frazier. That's why I'm willing to overlook all the bullshit and assume he plays well enough to be a big trade piece at the deadline, or somebody the Cubs might want to keep around if things go well. Either way you got options and that's very nice.
Elsewhere, I saw next years free agents and they absolutely fucking suck. It's kind of terrifying that no big deals this year means no big deals next year, which I don't think Cubs fans have accepted. But it's very true. The cavalry is NOT coming which means you can go ahead and get comfortable. We have a tough stretch ahead.*
*Cubs are definitely signing Carlos Correa and killing me in the process