The Pirates on Wednesday finalized a deal to reunite with a former All-Star of theirs, Adam Frazier, on a one-year Main League deal. Proper-hander Elvis Alvarado was designated for project to make room for Frazier, whose deal is value $1.525 million, sources advised MLB.com.
Frazier, a nine-year Main League veteran, spent the primary six seasons of his profession with the Pirates from 2016-2021. Whereas he was a league-average hitter for the primary 5 seasons of his profession, he loved a breakout marketing campaign in 2021, when he was voted because the Nationwide League All-Star workforce’s beginning second baseman. The Pirates – firmly of their rebuild by that time – traded him to the Padres for a package deal of gamers that included Jack Suwinski on the Commerce Deadline.
Frazier has had combined outcomes since leaving Pittsburgh, although. After down years with the Padres and Mariners in 2021 and 2022, he discovered some success with the Orioles in 2023, posting a .696 OPS and 1.7 WAR (based on Baseball Reference) in 141 video games performed. He spent final season with the Royals and transitioned to extra of a task participant, slashing .202/.282/.294 with 4 residence runs and 22 RBIs over 294 plate appearances.
Regardless of his down yr, Frazier maintained a few of the peripherals which have helped him discover success all through his profession, similar to higher than common marks for chase fee (26.4%), whiff fee (18.8%) and discovering the candy spot of the bat for his launch angles (37.9%).
Frazier is projected to be a utility infielder with the Pirates. Whereas he may get some reps within the outfield – he’s performed almost 1,500 innings within the Majors on the market – he’s not anticipated to be their answer within the nook outfield, an space the membership has appeared to enhance this offseason.
As an alternative, he’ll probably be a left-hand-hitting possibility for the infield primarily. Jared Triolo, a right-handed hitter, crammed that position for many of 2024 and received the Rawlings Gold Glove Award for utility gamers. Further infield depth has attraction, particularly after the membership spent giant chunks of the final two seasons with out Gold Glove-winning third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes. Second baseman Nick Gonzales and shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa additionally had stints on the injured record in 2024, each lasting roughly a month.
In his profession, Frazier has spent most of his time within the infield at second base, although he has logged 61 innings at third base and 26 innings at shortstop, and he performed a sport at first base for the Royals final season. Frazier was value -1 Outs Above Common final season, based on Baseball Savant.
The Pirates might want to make a corresponding transfer to the 40-man roster when Frazier’s deal is finalized.
