Cincinnati Reds, Todd Frazier avoid arbitration with 2-year deal
Third baseman Todd Frazier and the Cincinnati Reds have agreed to a two-year, $12 million deal and avoided arbitration, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. The soon-to-be 29-year-old Frazier will be paid $4.5 million in 2015 and $7.5 million in 2016, reports Mark Sheldon of MLB.com
Since becoming a full-time player at the hot corner for the Reds in 2012, Frazier has developed into one of the finer players in the National League. Had it not been the strongly hyped Bryce Harper and an unexpectedly strong season from Wade Miley, Frazier would have likely been the recipient of Rookie of the Year honors in 2012.
The New Jersey native batted .273/.331/.498 with 19 HR and 67 RBI in his rookie campaign. He fit in seamlessly in a strong Reds lineup that already featured the likes of former NL MVP Joey Votto and perennial All-Star Jay Bruce.
In a bit of a sophomore slump, Frazier struggled in his second full season. Despite posting nearly identical power numbers from his rookie campaign with 19 HR and 73 RBI, his overall hitting regressed. The Rutgers University product batted a disappointing .234/.314/.407 for a Reds team that lost its final six games and could not make it past the National League wild-card playoff game.
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Coming off a down 2013 gave Frazier incentive to bounce back strong, and that is exactly what he did. In 2014, Frazier posted career highs in homers (20), runs batted in (80), and stolen bases (20). He also raised his slash line to .273/.336/.459 in a season that saw him earn his first All-Star game nod. A neat story that garnered Frazier some publicity stemmed from his appearance at last season’s All-Star game in Minnesota. As we all know, that All-Star game was his first and the last for retiring captain of the New York Yankees, Derek Jeter.
During his childhood, Frazier was a part of the Little League World Series winning team in 1998. Representing his Little League team in 1998 at Yankee Stadium prior to a game, Frazier stood next to Jeter during the national anthem. 16 years after that moment, he stood side-by-side with Jeter once again, but this time as equals in the majors.
Overall, this contract is a steal for the Reds as few teams in the National League can boast a stalwart, talented, young and promising player manning third base. Coming off a breakout season a year prior, this contract is a relative discount and will provide great value for the Reds should Frazier emulate his 2014 production.