Pittsburgh Pirates 2021 Previews: IF Todd Frazier

After trading away guys like Jameson Taillon and Joe Musgrove, the Pittsburgh Pirates were looking for a new leader for the clubhouse. That is when they brought in free agent infield Todd Frazier who brings 12 years of experience to a young team.

A young and hungry team can be exciting to watch, and that is the product that General Manager Ben Cherington has put on the field this season. However, even the youngest teams in the league need veteran leadership to show them the way. That is why on February 20th, 2021, Cherington took a chance and signed veteran infielder Todd Frazier to a Minor League deal. Frazier was a long-time enemy to the Pirates, playing for the Cincinnati Reds from 2011 to 2015, but now he is bringing his knowledge and leadership to the Pirates. It is a mutually beneficial relationship as the Pirates get a strong, proven leader, and Frazier gets a chance to show that he can still be a consistent contributor at the Big League level.

So far this spring, Frazier has shown that the power numbers are still there as he has hit .208 with three home runs and six RBI. He has been dealing with some lower back tightness recently but has shown he still has what it takes to play both first base and third base. He is currently tied for the Pirates team lead in home runs this spring with three and if he can bring that pop to the regular season, he could be a much-needed power bat off the bench. The problem for Frazier is that he is a non-roster invitee, and someone would have to be moved off the 40-man to make room for Frazier. Today, we look at the impact that Todd Frazier has already made this spring, and how his 10-years of Major League experience can be a compliment to this young team.

Frazier Still Got It

If there is one player on this Pirates team that knows what it takes to win, it's Todd Frazier. Over his 10 years of Major League experience, he has made the playoffs three times, including in 2013 when the Pirates defeated the Reds at PNC Park. While he knows how to win, he also knows how to be a leader and help a young struggling team back on their feet. That was the position he was in at the start of the 2020 season when he signed as a free agent with the Texas Rangers. He started the year on the Rangers bench and ended up appearing in 31 games for the Rangers, hitting .241 with two home runs and seven RBI. Frazier was a starter from day one, earning the Opening Day nod at first base, but struggled out of the gate. In the month of July, he went just 4-19 (.211) but three of his four hits went for extra bases.

When the calendar turned to August, Frazier flipped the switch and got a hit in nine of his next 10 games, jumping his average to .308 on the season. During that stretch, Frazier was a singles machine, finding his way on base on a consistent basis and becoming more of an average hitter. He also hit consistently, with four multi-hit games during the stretch, and showed that he can hit in the middle of the lineup. When the trade deadline came around, the Rangers were out of it, and Rumors were circling about Frazier being traded. Those rumors would come true as he was traded to the New York Mets at the 2020 trade deadline, thrusting him into a playoff race.

However, the Mets seemed to grab Frazier too late as he started to cool off throughout the month of September. He hit just .224 with two home runs and five RBI in 14 games with the Mets. He only had three multi-hit games in a Mets uniform and was once again in free agency at season's end. At 35-years-old, Frazier was determined to keep playing the game he loves and find his way onto a team. That is when he agreed to sign a Minor League deal with the Pirates in late February. The deal made him the oldest member of the Pittsburgh Pirates position group, but he also gets the opportunity to mentor one of the too third base prospects in the league.

Power off the Bench

One of the things the Pirates needed this off-season, is a power bat off the bench. So far this spring, Frazier is showing he still has some power in that bat in his age 35 season, as he is tied for the team lead with three home runs this spring. Of his five hits this spring, four of those have gone for extra-bases, three home runs, and one double. If he can continue to show this power throughout the season, he could have been a nice pick-up for the Pirates off of the bench. Frazier has a consistent approach at the plate, as he showed when he was interviewed in-game by Greg Brown and the Pirates broadcast team. He is a veteran presence that has given high praise to some of the Pirate's younger prospects.

When first asked about KeBryan Hayes, Todd Frazier said "He is going to be a beast." While Frazier most likely won't earn a starting job out of Spring Training, he still has the ability to back up at either first base or third base when Hayes or Colin Moran needs a day off. Even as he gets up there in age, Frazier has still shown that he is a very capable defender in the field. As a third baseman last season with the New York Mets, Frazier was worth two outs above average. As a first baseman, Frazier was an average overall defender with no outs above average. With the Pirates emphasizing strong defensive play this season, Frazier's defensive ability will be a big factor in getting him into the lineup every day and his bat will be what keeps him there.

If there was ever a lock to make the Major League roster as a non-roster invitee, Todd Frazier is that lock. The Pirates need a veteran presence on this team, and there was no more telling sign that Frazier will make the club than what he said to former Pirate Jameson Taillon in a spring training game. When Taillon tipped his cap to his former teammates Frazier said "Don't worry, I'll take care of your guys." It was a small gesture that may have lasted just 10 seconds, but it showed how much Frazier cares about the Pirates and how much respect he has gained in the clubhouse. Yes, Frazier will more than likely be gone by the trade deadline, but he is looking to turn around his career and show he can still perform while mentoring these young players.