Taking a Waiver on Jason Frasor

When I heard the news that the Kansas City Royals had designated Jason Frasor for assignment I didn’t really think twice about it. I’m not in the loop as much as I’d like to be so I knew that Frasor was doing well but I didn’t know how well until Jack Niemuth, a writer here for TGP, commented that the Yankees needed to take a look at signing or trading for Frasor. When he posted some stats for Frasor this season I did some research and I was immediately intrigued. Jack was right, it’s time to take a waiver on Jason Frasor.

Now yesterday I laid out my plan to bring Andrew Miller back into the bullpen fold and while I wanted to designate Chris Capuano for assignment I knew that either Nick Rumbelow or Bryan Mitchell would be the ones to get sent down. Both Rumbelow and Mitchell throw from the right side and have been highly effective in their bullpen stints this season but neither have been as effective as the veteran Frasor. Frasor has posted a 1.54 ERA in 26 games for the Royals this season and when he is the one being designated for assignment you know that bullpen is legit.

Frasor is 37 years old and would come with a veteran presence and postseason experience that Joe Girardi and Brian Cashman love while also coming with American League and specifically American League East experience. Frasor was once a member of the Toronto Blue Jays organization and will likely have to be claimed and traded for after being designated for assignment for the first time in his career. There is absolutely no way he clears waivers and there is absolutely no way he gets released or ends up a free agent, he’s too good not to.

The waiver process goes according to league and record with the worst teams in the American League getting first dibs so the Yankees will have some competition for his services. It’s unlikely that Frasor falls to New York and it is probably unlikely that New York claims him, it makes too much sense to and really makes the bullpen a plus again, because it should happen. Good eye and good catch Jack, hopefully we can say the same about Cashman this time next week.