Which playoff contenders should target the White Sox’s Todd Frazier?

Kansas City Royals

Like the Baltimore Orioles, the Kansas City Royals don’t have a need at third base. They have a resurgent Mike Moustakas at the hot corner and Moose Tacos is having one of his best years with the bat. Acquiring Frazier would be an attempt by the Royals to capitalize on the mediocre AL Central, where they are just 2.5 games out of first. They are also just two games out of a wild card spot.

Before the season, it looked like the Royals would either make a final run with the guys who got them to the World Series in back-to-back years in 2014 and 2015 or trade away some of their veterans if the season went awry. As of right now, they are poised to make a run.

One of the glaring weaknesses in the Royals’ lineup is DH Brandon Moss, who is hitting just .194/.280/.410 (79 wRC+). All players used at the DH spot by the Royals have combined to be 22% worse than league average. Among AL teams, only the Orioles and Angels have had worst production from their DHs.

If the Royals were to pull the plug on Brandon Moss as their regular DH, they could add Todd Frazier and gain a projected 1-2 wins over the rest of the season. Moss is owed $7.25 million for next season, which might make the Royals hesitant to bench him, but this really is a do-or-die year for the franchise. Many of the guys who got them to back-to-back postseasons will be free agents at the end of the year, including Eric Hosmer, Lorenzo Cain, Mike Moustakas, and Alcides Escobar. The Royals have two paths to the playoffs, winning their division or getting a wild card spot, and Todd Frazier can help them get there.