AP source: Rangers, Frazier reach agreement on $5M deal
Veteran third baseman Todd Frazier and the Texas Rangers have reached an agreement on a $5 million, one-year contract, filling a significant need for the team.
A person familiar with the deal said Sunday that the agreement was pending a successful physical. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been announced.
Frazier will make $3.5 million in 2020, and the deal includes a 2021 club option with a $1.5 million buyout for the two-time All-Star.
Third base is a primary need for the Rangers, who lost out in their pursuit of top free agent Anthony Rendon this offseason when the Texas native instead signed with the division rival Los Angeles Angels. Frazier also provides a right-handed hitter in the middle of a left-leaning lineup, and could play first base if Texas adds other players.
Adrian Beltre, a four-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove third baseman who had 3,166 career hits, retired after the 2018 season. He played the last eight of his 21 big league seasons with Texas.
The Rangers added veteran Asdrubal Cabrera last offseason, and he hit .235 while starting 90 games before being released at the end of July. He then signed with the Washington Nationals, and played second base while part of their World Series title, along with Rendon.
Five other players also started games at third base for Texas last season.
Frazier, a month shy of his 34th birthday, spent the past two seasons with the New York Mets. He hit .251 with 21 homers and 67 RBIs in 133 games last year.
The .243 career hitter also played for the Cincinnati Reds (2011-15), the Chicago White Sox (2016-17) and Yankees (2017) in his nine big league seasons. He was twice an All-Star third baseman with the Reds, and has started at third in 1,000 of his 1,186 career games.
