Chicago Cubs: Breaking down a no-risk, high-reward Clint Frazier signing

Though he isn’t the big marquee name many Chicago Cubs fans may be holding out for, the team signed Clint Frazier to a one-year deal in a move that can be best categorized as low-risk, high-reward. The 27-year-old was the crown jewel of the return to the Yankees in the Andrew Miller trade in 2016, and the former first-rounder was expected to be a force offensively for years to come in the Bronx.

The story didn’t unfold the way anyone would’ve liked, however, and after five roller coaster years that ended in a disastrous 2021 campaign for Frazier, he was unceremoniously DFA’d and released by the Yankees. Though Frazier has had many lows throughout his career, the Cubs seemed to think a reclamation project was a worthwhile gamble, and it’s hard to disagree with the logic of the deal.

While one-year prove-it deals certainly aren’t going to excite many, it fits the exact mold of what Jed Hoyer meant when he said the Cubs were going to “spend intelligently”. If the Cubs aren’t going to spend massive amounts of money on players that can be cornerstones of a rebuild, then signing players like Frazier to short-term deals is by far the next best option due to the number of avenues it opens for the team.

In all likelihood, Chicago likely isn’t going to be able to compete for the 2022 postseason regardless of who they signed, as the team simply has too many holes for now. As a result, holding back on spending until they’re likely to be more competitive makes sense, and players like Clint Frazier are the perfect candidates to take a flier on.

Chicago Cubs: Can Clint Frazier make key adjustments at the plate?

His dismal offensive season, paired with his always lackluster defense, spelled the end in New York, but now the Cubs have an opportunity to fix him. If Frazier’s increased walk rate isn’t an enigma, and the team helps him find his power stroke again, there’s reason to have a lot of hope for this signing.

One issue that the Cubs will likely try to focus on is Frazier’s strikeout problem. Frazier struck out in 29.8 percent of his plate appearances in 2021, which is simply not feasible if you only slug .317 as he did. Getting Frazier to make at least a little more contact could go a long way in helping his offensive game, as he has natural power that the team needs to find a way to harness.

There’s plenty of development that needs to be done, but a young player with the potential that Frazier has flashed in the past is worth the gamble for the Cubs as they continue to work their way back to contention. Frazier is likely to see a lot of playing time this season, so he’ll certainly have an opportunity to redeem himself.

While many will take a signing like Frazier as an excuse for the Ricketts and the front office to be cheap, it’s smarter to take it as a gamble with almost no risk. He has had offensive success at the major league level in the past, and the Cubs are banking on him blossoming as he gets more consistent at-bats. It’s a calculated move from Jed Hoyer and company, and hopefully one of many such signings the team makes.