Todd Frazier is reportedly being shopped “heavily” by the Reds, and USA Today’s Bob Nightengale tweets that the most extensive interest in Cincinnati’s third baseman is coming from the American League Central. The Indians, White Sox and Royals are all in the mix for Frazier, Nightengale hears, which aligns with previous reports connecting the three clubs to the All-Star third baseman. Both Cleveland and Chicago could use upgrades at the hot corner, while Frazier would most likely be deployed in left field were the Royals to line up with the Reds on a trade.
Elsewhere in the AL Central…
- Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer writes that while the Indians may have lost a pair of trade partners when the D-backs (Zack Greinke, Shelby Miller) and Giants (Johnny Cueto, Jeff Samardzija) each added a pair of high-profile starting pitchers, there are still plenty of clubs with interest in Cleveland’s stockpile of young, controllable pitching. Hoynes feels that the Cubs (John Lackey signing notwithstanding), Rockies, Astros, Cardinals, Marlins and rebuilding Reds are all teams that could line up as trade partners. Cleveland is looking to bolster its offense and is interested in names like Jorge Soler, Javier Baez, Marcell Ozuna and Frazier. A one-for-one trade of Frazier for either Carlos Carrasco or Danny Salazar won’t be happening, he notes, as each has five years of club control compared to Frazier’s two. But, further pieces could make the deal more appealing. Failing a trade, the Indians could turn to relatively inexpensive names on the free agent market, where they’ve been linked to Rajai Davis, Shane Victorino and Steve Pearce.
- Although Tigers GM Al Avila ruled out a run at top-of-the-market outfielders like Yoenis Cespedes at last week’s Winter Meetings, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press notes that owner Mike Ilitch made no such claim. Fenech writes that while the Tigers aren’t seen as a major player for Cespedes now, that could change if he lingers on the open market and his price tag drops. Ilitch bluntly stated that “[doesn’t] care about money” after signing Jordan Zimmermann, and there’s certainly the case that Cespedes’ agents at Roc Nation Sports could pitch directly to Ilitch, as Scott Boras reportedly did with Prince Fielder four years ago.
- Also from Fenech, Tigers righty Bruce Rondon instigated a benches-clearing brawl at a game in the Venezuelan Winter League over the weekend. Fenech notes that manager Brad Ausmus had said just days prior that Rondon could work his way back into the bullpen picture by showing up to Spring Training with improved focus. The Tigers abruptly sent Rondon home with just under two weeks left in the season, citing his “effort level” as the driving factor behind the decision.
- The Twins met with Cesar Ramos’ agents and listened to a pitch on the lefty reliever in Nashville, reports 1500 ESPN’s Darren Wolfson (via Twitter). However, Wolfson doesn’t get the sense that there’s any real movement on that front. Increasingly, it seems like the Twins will trade for the lefty reliever(s) they’re seeking.
I’m surprised that the Dodgers aren’t listed as a team that would line up with the Indians in a trade for a SP
Not sure there’s a fit. Ethier won’t be of much interest to the Indians no matter how far down the Dodgers pay his contract. Puig would be, I’d guess, but I’m not convinced the Dodgers are selling him, and in any case he’s not enough for Carrasco. What the Indians want to do is trade prospects for an OF, not their existing strength, which is major league pitchers.
If they do go the trade route, expect it to be with a rebuilding team like the Phillies or Rockies.
The Indians wouldn’t deal Danny Salazar for Todd Frazier? Really? I don’t believe that for one second.
Article says the Indians wouldn’t do a straight up Salazar for Frazier deal because Salazar has 5 years of control (including 2 non-arbitration years) whereas Frazier only has 2 years of control including 2 more arbitration years where he’s more than likely going to command a lot more than the $7.5 mil he earned in 2015. The writer feels it would have to include something in addition to Frazier, more like a minor prospect (non top 100 guy) or some other usable mlb player (maybe a backup player or something similar).
Wondering the same thing. The Toddfather is exactly the bat the tribe has been searching for
Umm, you don’t? Salazar has significantly more value. Especially to a small market team like thee Indians who are counting their pennies. Years of control and salary are hugely valuable. Salazar has a little bit less good (but not a ton less good) with significantly more team control at an absolute fraction of the price. The Indians wouldn’t trade him for Frazier in a million years. Especially not considering what Miller just got.
*Is a little bit less good. I wish we could edit posts.
This. For most teams a Salazar-Frazier trade would work out fine, as Frazier is a more productive player and fills a huge hole. But for a low-budget team you just can’t do that kind of deal unless the player you’re getting is MUCH better.
This mentality is exactly why the Tribe won’t get Fraizer, and probably won’t compete either.
Salazar isn’t that valuable. Yes, he is valuable. Young controllable pitcher and all. But he’s not elite, he doesn’t have the potential to be elite, and we’re talking about one of best 3B in the game. It’s going to cost considerably more than Salazar to land a Todd Frazier, probably Salazar AND Carrasco. Or at least one fo them and multiple top prospects. If the Indians are going to take the approach that Salazar is worth more than one of the best players in the game, they might as well stop trying to trade and concentrate on the free agent market.
Frazier has three good things going for him. He’s a Gold Glove 3b, he hits home runs and relative to the open market, he’s cheap.. That’s it. He doesn’t draw walks, he has a low batting average and OBP and he has a glaring home/road split over the last two years when it comes to his best offensive attribute……hitting HRs.
2014 +15= 64 HRS
45 hrs at home vs 19 on the road in relatively the exact same number of at bats.
Now, I’m not saying that it should be Salazar straight up but to say that it would take Salazar AND Carrasco or event Salazar and an elite prospect is laughable imo.
Frazier is a very good player but don’t minimize how good either Carasco or Salazar were last year. They both were top 10 SP according to WAR in the AL last year.
I think the fact that Salazar took so long to reach the majors (in the minors since 2007) and has never been a top 100 prospect has worked against him. But he’s showing improvements from 2014 and there’s no reason to think he won’t continue to improve.
That being said, my proposed trade of Salazar for Gardner, 3b prospect Jagielo and a lesser prospect was probably too little in return for the Indians.
LOL…most players have splits like that at home. Players like playing at home. It’s not like he’s hitting .220 on the road. I’d expect Fraizer to be the same player no matter where he ends up. He has tremendous power, and it will play.
GG 3B at two under market years who hits for power to boot. They’re aren’t really that many of those out there. Fraizer is about as valuable as they get.
@sportingdissent
“It’s not like he’s hitting .220 on the road. ”
.233/.285/.448 2015 road split.
He basically is. Not to mention a huge drop off in the 2nd half overall of .220/.274/..390
but he’s traded all ready so we can end the speculation.
Look at the return the braves got for Miller? And Miller has 3 years and not near the potential of Salazar. And the braves got way more than Todd Frazier alone
Yeah but as of right now who is the better pitcher b/w miller or salazar? clearly miller by a landslide. Salazar is being overrated, Carrasco is the real gem.
Sorry, but what grounds are you using to say that Miller is better than Salazar by a landslide? Salazar had a better WHIP, more K’s, and an identical ERA to Miller (Salazar-123, Miller-124). Plus, Salazar did that while pitching in a more difficult league as far as run scoring goes (7 of top 10 teams in runs scored were AL). I’m not saying Miller isn’t better, because overall I think he is slightly better, but it’s definitely not a landslide.
Yeah, that’snot even close to true. What about Miller is significantly better as of right now?
Last year:
Miller: 78 ERA-, 91 FIP-, 105 xFIP-, 7.50 K/9, 3.20 BB/9
Salazar: 86 ERA-, 89 FIP-, 86 xFIP-, 9.49 K/9, 2.58 BB/9
Other than an ERA that Miller has a small advantage (likely due mostly to being in an easier division and having an abnormally low HR/FB rate, Salazar is better at basically everything. Salazar also has better career rates and a much better projection for next year. Even with ERA (Miller’sonly advantage), Salazar has a better projection for next year. I would much rather have Salazar than Miller, if given the choice.
Why not ? Frazier did nothing in the second half while playing in one of the most hitter friendly parks and adds nothing when it comes to obp . If I was Francona I wouldn’t either
He slumped for a bit in the second half, but mostly he was just unlucky. His BABIP last year, despite another monster year, was lower than his career BABIP (significantly so in the second half). Frazier still hit the ball well. There’s nothing wrong with him.
Seems like everything’s about value not needs these days.
Frazier seems like a great fit on paper but guess the Reds need to sweeten the pot.
What people don’t seem to get is that few deals like that occur all the time even if they make no sense from a team-building armchair GM perspective. The Dbacks traded 19 years of Inciarte, Swanson, and Blair for 3 years of Miller. Each of those players may well be (and arguably will likely be) more valuable over the life of his remaining control than Miller over his.
Trades happen; teams try to trade future wins for current wind sometimes. Get over it.
I would be shocked if the ask for Todd Frazier was Salazar by the Reds. I think they would be happy with your two minor league outfielders Zimmer and Frazier. I think that would be a win for both sides. The Reds getting two top positional prospects, while the Indians fill a huge hole at 3B with an impact power bat without giving up major league pitching. The Reds don’t really have a need for Salazar as most of their top prospects and young major league ready talent are pitchers.
I think Frazier would be a great fit for the Mets… They have a hole in left and he could also spell Wright at 3rd. Would a package centered around Flores and Wheeler be to cheap? I mean Fraizer’s stock isn’t as high as it was during the all-star break.
Opinions?
I’m wondering why everyone seems to think he would be a good LF’er…..just cuz it was reported that the Royals are showing interest as him playing there?
Wonder if he’d even want to shift to LF?
I do agree with you on that front. Though he’s played a number of games in left, nowhere near what he’s played at 3rd or even 1st. Hypothetically let’s say he plays 30 games at 3rd, 20 at first, and the rest in LF… Some sort of super utility power bat… A man can dream lol
Frazier played almost everywhere in the minors – 1b, 2b, 3b, SS, OF. He often floated around to make room for less-versatile prospects like Edwin Encarnacion, Yonder Alonso, and others. He has plenty of experience in LF, and he’s at least competent at 3b, 1b, and OF. That said, he’s a good defensive thirdbaseman, and moving him to the outfield would be a big waste. There aren’t 20 (not including shortstops who could be moved over), let alone 30, good thirdbasemen in MLB today.
Where would Conforto play isn’t he limited to LF as is?
Michael Conforto is in LF for the Mets. There’s no trade there.
Frazier’s a great hitter for a 3B. He’s more OK-Good for a LF. And his defense might be atrocious.
He played a lot of OF in the minors. LF was supposedly his favorite position when he first came up.
Why would you think the Mets have a hole in left? They have a top line, mlb ready left field prospect named Michael Conforto who had 200 amazing, mvp caliber at bats this season. He has average range, am above average arm, hits for power, average, and obp.
No, the Mets do not have a hole in left field. left field is probably their strongest position. Honestly, what really drives me up the wall is that even a lot of Mets fans think they have a hole in left field. I cannot wrap my head around this. Didn’t you guys watch the Post season? The kid hit a homer off Grienke, it was awesome. He is going to do things like that very often.
You’re absolutly right. I jumped the gun without even thinking about it. Let’s see what the kid can do with a full year.
Let’s not get too crazy here. Conforto looks good but I wouldn’t say MVP caliber at bats (his numbers were solid, especially for a rookie, but not jump-off-the-page numbers).
Conforto did look good in the lower levels of the minors but
let’s not get too excited here.
He’s got a .465 slugging in the minors.
He may develop more power as he ages but
the kid isn’t close to being elite.
Much agreed. Come to think of it Frazier really wouldn’t work with this Met team at this time. Are they going to give Lagares the full year in center or do we go for a Fowler type player?
I have Denard Span ticketed for NYM.
Even with the Mets coming out and saying that they’re not interested in
giving players multi-year contracts?
Hopefully not the Cardinals, theyve lost the past two trades theyve made with Cleveland.
I wonder if the Indians would have any interest in Brett Gardner?
Salazar for Brett Gardner, Slade Heathcott or Mason Williams and maybe Eric Jagielo?
or…..Gardner, Heathcott or Williams + Gamel for Trevor Bauer and Tyler Naquin?
The Indians will get way more than Gardner as a center piece if they actively shopped him. The Indians are trying to win now so they want a big bat, not Gardner.
Fenech should go watch the video of that game. Rondon responded to Osuna yelling from 1B after a pickoff attempt. Rondon didn’t instigate the bench clearing brawl. If I were the coach and GM I would take it as a good sign from Rondon. Fire is what he lacked last year.
Well said.
Would absolutely love to see Cespedes wearing the old English D again. Ilitch should make the call to go get him
frazier is in the prime of his career and is a big, rh, all star slugger who plays as good on defense at third as anybody else. his war dwarfs his salary for at least the next two years, when he is in his prime!
las year he played on an atrocious reds team that tanked its season after the all star game.
frazier might get the indians past the royals and into the post season. salazar ain’t doing that. beyond the next 2 years they both go up in arbitration. i’m betting frazier’s future is brighter than salazar’s.
The Reds say they want position players who are MLB ready or have some MLB experience but still have a lot of control left..
With the haul they got for Cueto (and Leake), several internal guys who are moving to AAA this year, the work they got from Desclafani and Iglesias at the MLB level in 2015 plus Bailey coming off of TJ with 4 years of team control, the Reds look to be set for starting pitching, at least by 2017.
Thus anybody trying to get Frazier with a starting pitcher is going to have to overpay..
As a Royals fan I do not want to see Frazier on my team. He’s a good bat, but not every third baseman is a Gold Glove outfielder. Would rather go Gordon and Dyson, or Markakis, or CarGo.
I think KC maybe listed in these talks to get Gordon to sign, if he truely wants to stay.
I don’t see the cubs trading Baez right now – looks like they want to give him a chance to be the next Zobrist ( play 2nd, ss,3rd and they even have him learning cf this winter) – so since they didn’t sign the planets best rf’er to play cf looks like Soler is a goner. I think Soler and a mlb’er or low level prospect gets Salazar but I would rather they add a few more pcs and get Carrasco. Soler, McKinney,edwards,or Voglebach and maybe coughlin or Lastella for Carrasco and a mid range prospect? Still sounds a little light but maybe good start point. Would Indians do Soler and almora for Carrasco?
If the Indians want some offense.
I think their best choice would be the Reds.
They’re obviously shopping Frazier.
Can’t do better than a 30hr hitting third baseman.
But considering the fact that the Reds are rebuilding and
would prefer Salazar over Carrasco.
Maybe have them put in a prospect or two.
As a long time Reds fan,I hope they can get a better haul than just a potential front line pitcher. How about some MLB ready prospects ?
have to say I’d be absolutely shocked to see the White Sox trade for Frazier. If they do any major offensive move most likely will be Upton or Cespedes but even that is a crapshoot. If any central team did it would have to be the Indians at this point in time as they may be more desperate for power in their lineup
just a thought but Texas might be a place Frazier could come if the price isn’t too high. TX needs a RHB with some pop and Frazier could: A: play LF, B: play some 1B C: fill in at 3b should Beltre need a rest or get injured.
White sox gave up next to nothing in Thompson and Johnson to acquire Frazier. Montas is the only intriguing piece and he’s not even headed to Cincinnati. White sox will be in on Cespedes. Then if they were smart they would go on to sign a good 3 or 4 veteran starting pitchers to either minor league deals or incentive base 1 year deals. Doug fister, Aaron harang, josh Johnson, cliff lee, Colby Lewis, Tim lincecum, Kyle lohse, Justin masterson, Alfredo Simon, Ryan volgeson, and Brandon morrow. Mike leake would be a great arm to add but highly unlikely.