The Royals have reached out to the Reds to discuss a Todd Frazier trade, reports Jayson Stark of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Clearly, the presence of Mike Moustakas makes the proposition a seemingly unusual fit, but Stark notes that the Royals would likely use Frazier in left field in the event that a trade is completed. (There’s no indication from his report that talks are even serious, however.)
The Reds are said to have a high asking price on Frazier, who has two years of club control and will earn $7.5MM next season in the second year of a two-year, $12MM contract. That would certainly fit into the Royals’ budget, though it remains to be seen if Kansas City would be willing to part with the MLB-ready talent Cincinnati is said to covet in a trade of Frazier.
Looking at the larger picture, the interest in Frazier gives some insight into the Royals’ level of belief that they can ultimately retain Alex Gordon. Multiple reports have indicated that the Royals’ hope has been to retain Gordon on a three- or possibly four-year pact, but that would seemingly represent a team-friendly compromise on Gordon’s behalf, and the argument that he already made such a concession with his first contract is certainly valid. GM Dayton Moore and his staff could simply be performing due diligence and exploring all of their options while waiting for the Gordon market to take shape, but the interest in alternative solutions — and outside-the-box alternatives at that — nonetheless is, as Stark said, a rather fascinating wrinkle, even if it ends up as a footnote in the overall scheme of the offseason.
Lol, a team’s top 2 prospects for a guy who is a FA in 2 years and had a sub .310 OBP last year. Too funny. Walt is either insane or doesn’t want to trade him. Probably the latter.
Well there are other statistics than OBP ya know.
His home/road splits are terrible, and he had an awful second half. This guy doesn’t have that much trade value. Maybe one top 100-ish prospect.
If I ever own a team, remind to never hire you to be a talent evaluator.
Yeah, because a guy with an OPS+ of 117 with good power and can play multiple positions for a cheap 2 more years isn’t worth that? Please.
You act like an OPS+ of 117 in GABP is uber impressive. No team is going to give up their top 2 prospects for Frazier, lol.
I hope Cincy is able to deal him, he kills the Bucs every year. Just kinda seems like the type of impact player with a reasonable year and a half contract that would get a much bigger haul at the deadline when contenders are more desperate to get that final piece to put them over the hump.
What does GABP have to do with it? OPS+ takes park factors into account so it doesn’t matter what park he played in. If Shelby Miller can pull down the kind of package he pulled down, then Frazier is worth at a minimum top 2 prospects and then some.
Just about everyone agrees the Miller trade was a massive overpay. That shouldn’t be the expected return. No team will give their top 2 prospects for Frazier; unless it’s a team like Detroit with no farm system. If anybody was willing to do that, he would have been dealt already. Funny how everyone is reporting the Reds are asking too much…
Funny how everyone is saying Boston overpayed. Funny how everyone is saying Arizona overpayed. Jocketty wouldn’t be doing his job if his asking price wasn’t high and it should be. Frazier is a power hitter and above-average fielder at third base. He brings position versatility and is an all-star signed to a team-friendly contract for two years and is just 30 years old. If a team wants him now, it’s going to cost in prospects.
Where did I say anything about expecting a Miller-type return? Miller got a lot more than a team’s top 2 prospects. I said if Miller got that type of return, then asking for a team’s top 2 prospects and then some isn’t crazy for the Reds. Then some is not equal to an Inciarte, then some is equal to a low level lottery ticket or two.
I’m guessing you don”t know that OPS+ is adjusted for various ballparks a player plays in. It’s a much better gauge of a players production rather than just OBP.
“No one will give up a teams top 2 prospects”….Well let’s see, Not every club’s top prospects are equal to each other. The ask was for the Royals’ top two prospects is likely because neither of them are in AAA or close to the majors, so there is additional risk there for the club. Besides, Almonte according to some sites is their 4th best prospect.
Yeah, because why should teams have to give up anything of value for an All-Star caliber 3B who hit 35 HRs last year and is an above average glove. Oh, and the fact that he’s only owed $7.5 mil next year just makes asking for anything more than a B level prospect absurd!
If the Indians don’t end up with Frazier, and especially if he ends up with an AL Central rival, their offseason was a failure.
I mean it really depends what the Reds are wanting in return. If they were wanting both Zimmer and Frazier I’d say the Indians were smart to walk away.
If they wanted say Naquin, Ramsey, etc. Then I’d agree.
Good point. Reports were a package built around Clint Frazier and Kaminsky. If they were asking that plus Zimmer, yes walk away. But I would think that plus a Ramsey or even Urshela would get it done.
I would agree that Zimmer or Frazier plus Kaminsky and ramsey would probably be enough to convince me to deal just two years of Todd Frazier. I think it would be a huge way to improve the Indians without giving up major league talent. I would almost just do Clint Frazier and Zimmer alone to get it done.
That’s way to steep of a price imo. Zimmer and Frazier are their two top prospects. Unless they got a guarantee from Frazier he’d sign an extension no way I’d deal both for him.
I think one of them plus Ramsey and another prospect should be enough. Anymore and thats far to steep.
That’s just me though. I’m more conservative when it comes to prospects.
Why you would want to move a gold-glove nominated third baseman to left field is totally beyond me.
The royals keep there prospects together all these years. They finally get to two World Series, win one. Now they won’t keep that core together and will let Gordon go?? Dumb.