Clint Frazier went from starting left fielder to designated for assignment.
The Yankees’ attempt to remake their roster sped up on Friday, as Frazier, Tyler Wade and Rougned Odor were designated for assignment.
They also traded Nick Nelson and Donny Sands to the Phillies in exchange for a pair of minor leaguers.
The moves were made in advance of the deadline to protect minor leaguers from next month’s Rule 5 draft, as the Yankees added infielder Oswaldo Cabrera, outfielder Everson Pereira, right-handers Ron Marinaccio and Stephen Ridings and lefty JP Sears to the 40-man roster.
It marks the end of a stark fall for Frazier, who was the centerpiece of the deal that sent Andrew Miller to Cleveland in 2016.
General manager Brian Cashman raved about Frazier’s “legendary bat speed,” but while the fifth-overall pick of the 2013 draft showed flashes of promise and seemed to break out in 2020, he was derailed by health issues last season.
Frazier was named the starting left fielder last offseason before struggling at the plate in 2021.
He dealt with undisclosed health issues that led to dizziness and last played for the Yankees on June 30. A rehab assignment was cut short in August, and Cashman said Thursday night that Frazier was working out at his home in Georgia but could be ready in time for spring training.
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Wade, 26, had been with the organization since being drafted in 2013 and was coming off a season in which he played a career-high 103 games, including a solid stretch from late July into August when he had a 1.046 OPS in 49 plate appearances over 18 games, as the Yankees dealt with injury and COVID issues.
Odor came over from the Rangers just before Opening Day last season, with Texas picking up his entire salary.
Nelson and minor league catcher Donny Sands were dealt to Philadelphia in exchange for minor league infielder T.J. Rumfield and lefty Joel Valdez.
Rumfield, 21, having spent last season with Low-A Clearwater after being drafted by the Phillies in the 12th round of last year’s amateur draft.
Valdez, also 21, was signed by the Phillies in 2018 out of the Dominican Republic and just completed his first full professional season.
Nelson, who turns 26 next week, made the major league roster out of spring training, but quickly struggled and ended up with an 8.79 ERA- and 16 walks in 14 ¹/₃ innings over 11 appearances with the Yankees. He spent most of the season with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
The 40-man roster additions include Cabrera, who is 22 and spent most of 2021 at Double-A Somerset, where he played second base, third and shortstop before he was moved up to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He hit well and showed some power from both sides of the plate.
Pereira, 20, finished the season with High-A Hudson Valley.
The 26-year-old Ridings appeared in five games with the Yankees in August.
Marinaccio is a hard-throwing right-hander. The 26-year-old finished the season with SWB, while Sears is a lefty who also pitched well at SWB.
