On and off the field, Frazier seems fit for Chicago White Sox
GLENDALE, Ariz. — There are some red flags with Todd Frazier.
The Chicago White Sox' new third baseman spent his first five major-league seasons in the National League, with the Cincinnati Reds.
As any discerning Sox fan can tell you after watching Adam Dunn and Adam LaRoche the past five years, switching from the NL to American League can be a difficult endeavor.
Frazier is a power hitter, so making contact can be troublesome. Over his last three seasons, he averaged 134 strikeouts.
In the second half of 2015, Frazier ran out of gas and posted a .220/.274/.390 hitting line with 10 home runs and 32 RBI. That was a significant drop-off from the first half, when the 30-year-old New Jersey native slashed .284/.337/.585 with 25 homers and 57 RBI.
A few worries? No doubt. But the White Sox obviously prefer focusing on the many positives of Frazier, who was acquired on Dec. 16 in a three-team trade that sent Trayce Thompson, Frankie Montas and Micah Johnson to the Dodgers.
“He's got a track record,” said manager Robin Ventura, a star third baseman for the Sox from 1989-98. “That's the biggest thing, when you start looking at what he's done in the past couple of years you're confident he's going to be able to come over here and do that. It's been a while since you've had a guy that you can pencil in there every day, and it doesn't make it extra special just because I played third base. It's just we need a guy to be able to do that.”
Frazier brings needed power to a White Sox team that finished last in the AL in 2015 with 136 home runs.
Despite the rough second half, Frazier's 35 homers ranked fourth in the NL, and his power numbers steadily increased with the Reds.
“The home runs have gone up,” Frazier said. “Hopefully, that keeps working out until the day I don't play anymore. I don't know. I work hard. I'm trying to figure out some stuff. I've got a lot more homework to do now since I'm in the American League, figuring out the pitchers. For me, hopefully, that keeps happening.”
As for the drop-off after the all-star break last year, Frazier made no excuses.
“Two things,” he said. “I was tired, for one. Everybody said your swing was different. It wasn't different at all. I was tired. If you look at what we had going on, we weren't winning. Nobody wants to play on a losing team. Nothing against the Reds or the team I was playing on, it's not fun. When your job's not fun, sometimes it's tough to get going.”
Frazier joins a team that has posted a losing record for three straight seasons, but the 6-foot-3, 220-pounder is confident the Sox are on the rise.
“I did a little homework,” Frazier said. “I looked online a little bit and saw the capabilities we have with this team. The pitching staff is great, through the bullpen and starters, and I've said this all the time, if we're healthy, if the team is healthy and we've got guys who produce and do their jobs, we'll be fine. Health is No. 1.”
While he has been in camp less than a week, Frazier already has the look of a clubhouse leader. He likes to talk, and his sense of humor is elevated by the Jersey accent.
“Being from New Jersey, I talk a lot, so man, that's kind of a little bit of it,” Frazier said. “But you try to lead by example. As a good leader, you need to have people behind you to back you up. You can't do it single-handedly. Coming into a new complex and a new team, I'm not going to be as boisterous. I'm not going to be crazy. I have to find my little niche, find my way in there.
“If guys have questions for me, that's fine, we'll talk about it. We have a bunch of veteran guys here already, so why not follow their lead or help out as much as you can.”