Trade market growing for Cincinnati Reds’ Todd Frazier

The Cincinnati Reds’ Todd Frazier generated some discussion at last week’s Winter Meetings, though the third baseman hasn’t been involved in a trade as of yet. According to a report from Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, a significant crop of teams are showing interest in the two-time All-Star.

Heyman says that trade talks concerning Frazier are “starting to percolate.” In addition to the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox, who reportedly engaged the Reds over Frazier at the Meetings, Heyman identifies the Washington Nationals, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels as clubs believed to be in the mix.

Frazier, who will turn 30 in February, is coming off an altogether impressive 2015 season. He set career highs in home runs (35) and RBIs (89) and posted his best OPS (.806) since 2012. Perhaps his biggest moment came at the All-Star Game, when he edged Joc Pederson for the Home Run Derby crown in front of a hometown Cincinnati crowd.

Things quickly went south after the midsummer break, however. Though Frazier slashed .284/.337/.585 in the first half, he only managed a .220/.274/.390 line in the second. He added just 10 homers and 32 RBIs to his account after the All-Star Game as well.

Regardless of his second half swoon, Frazier still boasts a solid resume over his five seasons in Major League Baseball. Since becoming a regular player in 2012 (the year he finished third in Rookie of the Year voting), Frazier sports a .258/.322/.465 slash line while averaging 26 long balls and 77 RBIs per season. He has also averaged a 3.6 WAR over that span.

Teams seeking some more offensive pop at the hot corner will naturally be interested in Frazier, though he could conceivably fit at other positions as well. He has some experience at first base (including 43 appearances there a year ago), and according to ESPN’s Jayson Stark, the Royals have floated the idea of playing him in left field, presumably if Alex Gordon signs elsewhere.

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Frazier is signed through the 2016 season at $7.5 million and will likely command a nice contract when he hits free agency. As Heyman notes, the Reds are committed to a full rebuild, so a Frazier trade figures to happen sooner or later. He also says that the team is shopping outfielder Jay Bruce and second baseman Brandon Phillips as well, so there could be a handful of familiar faces making their way out of Cincinnati.