Joey Ricotta | January 12th, 2020
Third Baseman Todd Frazier has agreed to terms with the Texas Rangers for one year at $5 million. There is also a team option for 2021 at $5.75 million. Prior to striking a deal, the biggest news coming from Todd Frazier this offseason was his neighborhood wild turkey problem…which he’s complained to New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy about. As for what he brings to his new team on the field and in the clubhouse, let’s take a closer look.
Frazier sports a lifetime .243/.320/.450 (.770 OPS) slash line, averaging 29 homers per 162 games played. As a member of the New York Mets, the ToddFather hit .251 last year while adding 21 homers and 67 runs batted in. From a batting average perspective, it was his best marker at the end of a season since his 2015 All-Star campaign.
Although the final stats look decent when compared to his career, he was a streaky hitter last season going through extremely hot spurts, followed by drawn-out dry spells. In the months of May and June combined, he hit .270. In July and August, he combined to bat .207. Then, he picked it up again in the month of September, to close out the season, batting .350 in his final 60 ABs with a 1.017 OPS.
Frazier adds a good stick against southpaws. Last year, he hit left-handed hurlers well, to the tune of a .294 average, .382 wOBA and 142 wRC+. Conversely, Frazier struggled against righties, hitting .234 with a .306 wOBA and 92 wRC+.
Frazier is solid in the intangibles department. By many accounts, unless you ask Adam Eaton, he is a fantastic clubhouse guy. His defense is solid at third base, with four defensive runs saved above average per year at the hot corner. The ToddFather might not log a ton of games, as he’s averaged only 124 games played over the last two years. However, the limited playing time suits him better given his age, and he can play both infield corners, moving over to first base in a pinch. The soon to be 34-year old will help the Texas Rangers with a strong veteran presence and could wind up being best used in a platoon role based on last season’s splits.
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