Frazier brings needed muscle to middle of White Sox' lineup
As expected, the major storyline from this weekend's SoxFest is the elusive missing piece.
While they gave it a go, the Chicago White Sox were unable to sign any of the three impact free-agent outfielders — Yoenis Cespedes, Justin Upton and Alex Gordon.
General manager Rick Hahn has vowed to continue searching for a big bat to bolster the American League's worst offense last year, and he still has over two months before the Sox open the season with an April 4 game at Oakland.
Somewhat lost in the ongoing hunt for a new outfielder — or possibly shortstop — is the addition of Todd Frazier.
“We think he's a pretty important cog and the fact of the matter is, given where third base is around the game, he was probably the No. 1 target as we entered the off-season,” Hahn said at the Hilton Chicago. “We like the presence in the middle of the order. We think that's going to help not just having more runs scored because of who he is as a player, but it's going to have a ripple effect on the guys around him.”
Acquired from the Reds on Dec. 16 in a three-team trade that sent outfielder Trayce Thompson, pitcher Frankie Montas and second baseman Micah Johnson to the Dodgers, Frazier instantly slots in as the White Sox' cleanup hitter and provides needed protection for Jose Abreu.
With Cincinnati last season, Frazier faded with the rest of the Reds in the second half, batting .220 with 10 home runs and 32 RBI. In the first half, the 29-year-old third baseman hit .284 with 25 homers and 57 RBI.
That is a concerning split, but the complete body of 2015 work left Frazier leading the National League with 619 at-bats, tying for second with 43 doubles, ranking third with 79 extra-base hits, fourth with 35 home runs and 308 total bases and 11th with 89 RBI.
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Frazier also batted .255 for the season, made his second straight NL all-star team and was a Gold Glove finalist.
Now, after five seasons with the Reds, Frazier joins the AL White Sox with high expectations.
“Nah,” Frazier said when asked if he's feeling any pressure. “You come up in the minor leagues, you've been doing it your whole life, trying to move up to each level. That's how I'm taking it. I'm moving up another level. A new chapter in my life with a new team. You've got to make new friends and get acquainted with everybody.
“I'm pretty excited just talking about it. It's so laid back and a comfortable atmosphere that I can just be myself and that's where I play my best.”
Can Frazier make the adjustment from the NL to the AL? The White Sox obviously answer in the affirmative, but the last two power bats they imported from the NL — Adam Dunn and Adam LaRoche — were colossal flops.
Dunn and LaRoche also tried, and failed, to make the difficult switch from NL first baseman to AL designated hitter. If he stays healthy, Frazier should play at least 157 games at third base for the third straight season.
“I wouldn't know,” Frazier said about the challenges of changing leagues. “I think you need a little more playing time against the other league. But if you're a hitter, you're a hitter. They still have to throw strikes and you've got to hit the ball. If you can do that, you'll be fine.”
While the White Sox can still use one more hitter, Frazier's presence already makes them a better offense than last season.
“It just takes one guy, just something different,” ace starting pitcher Chris Sale said. “He'll bring something different to the table than the next guy. And the next guy brings something different to the table. It's about a bunch of people bringing something different to the table that makes something pretty awesome. Hopefully we can do something together and figure that out, whatever that recipe might be.”
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