New York Mets sign Todd Frazier to two year contract
By Jason Evans
The New York Mets add some power to their infield by signing Todd Frazier to a two-year contract
Earlier today in my article about the New York Mets catchers, i said they would be better off taking their resources and getting a third baseman and a starting pitcher. Well, they just added half of those things.
#Mets in agreement with free-agent 3B Todd Frazier on two-year, $17M contract, sources tell The Athletic. Pending a physical.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 6, 2018
Anything the Mets may get out of David Wright this year is a bonus and now they have a legitimate third baseman by signing the soon to be 32 year old Frazier for the next two years. This move puts Asdrubal Cabrera at second base and makes Jose Reyes and Wilmer Flores bench players and depth/platoon pieces, giving the Mets depth they’ve lacked.
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Frazier hit just .213/.344/.428 combined with the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox last season, however, he did produce 27 homers, drove in 76 runs and played in 147 games, something that is very important to a team that seems to be under siege by injuries year after year.
The New York Mets will have a veteran core of position players around top prospects Dominic Smith and Amed Rosario.
Frazier will also be a big part of the Mets new clubhouse culture, something new skipper Mickey Calloway is a big believer in. The thumbs down was the Yankees rallying cry last year late in the season and all the way through the playoffs.
This move also signifies to me that Mets do not think that Wright will be walking through that door this year and that they need to move forward with the hopes that Frazier can provide some of that veteran leadership and production on and off the field.
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For a team that has been criticized in years past for having a small budget, the New York Mets seem to be exploiting this odd winter market by signing not only Frazier, but bringing back Jay Bruce and adding Anthony Swarzak to the bullpen.
All in all, this is a solid move by the Mets and deepens their lineup for the upcoming season as they look to make the playoffs for the third time in four years.