Should the Red Sox trade for Todd Frazier?
Welcome to Boston.com’s Sports Q, our daily conversation, initiated by you and moderated by Chad Finn, about a compelling topic in Boston sports. Here’s how it works: You submit questions to Chad through Twitter, Facebook, email, his
Friday chat, and any other outlet you prefer. He’ll pick one each day (except for Saturday) to answer, then we’ll take the discussion to the comments. Chad will stop by several times per day to navigate. But you drive the conversation.
I liked the idea of trading for Todd Frazier until I just looked up his stats. Yeah, he has 16 homers, but he’s hitting .208 with a .328 OPB and .432 slugging percentage. And he was pretty much the same in the second half last year (.240/.298/.450 with 15 homers). I guess he might help if he can field competently and hit one out once in a while, but they’d better not give up much for him. Do you want the Red Sox to trade for him, or is there someone else they should target who might help more or come cheaper? – Carney Lansford
Well, I’m in favor of bringing Adrian Beltre back. And a Butch Hobson comeback is way overdue. Unfortunately there is about equal odds of either of those things happening. Let’s call them improbable.
I’m not a big Frazier fan, but he seems like a good clubhouse guy, and he currently has more home runs than any Red Sox hitter other than Mookie Betts, so that’s something. He’d be an upgrade over the puddle of lost hope known as Pablo Sandoval, at least.
Is it worth trading for him? Depends what they’re giving up. I’m always wary of Dave Dombrowski overpaying for a player he wants. These Miguel Cabrera rumors make me shudder, and not only because he has roughly the same OPS as Dustin Pedroia this year. I suspect Dombrowski would give up the entire Sea Dogs franchise to get him, if he could make the money work.
Fortunately, it sounds like the price will be relatively low. From USA Today’s national baseball writer:
The #Whitesox would get only fringe prospect in return for Frazier, and eating part of contract too, in any deal
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 16, 2017
There are other potential third base solutions I like better, Jed Lowrie being one. But if Frazier comes over for next to nothing? Sure, why not?
What do you guys think? Do you want Frazier on the Red Sox, or should they be targeting another available third baseman? I’ll see you in the comments.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com