White Sox acquire Frazier in three-team swap

Associated Press

CHICAGO

The White Sox were looking to add some pop while solidifying third base, and they are counting on Todd Frazier to provide it.

The All-Star third baseman was acquired from the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday as part of a three-team, seven-player trade that also included the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Los Angeles received outfielder Trayce Thompson, right-hander Frankie Montas and second baseman Micah Johnson from the White Sox, and Cincinnati got infielders Brandon Dixon and Jose Peraza and outfielder Scott Schebler from the Dodgers.

The 29-year-old Frazier, who won last summer’s All-Star Home Run Derby in Cincinnati, was an NL All-Star in each of the last two seasons and hit .255 this year with 43 doubles, 35 homers and 89 RBIs. “I’m pretty excited,” he said.

“I’ve got to be truthful with you. I know it’s the American League. I know it’s gonna be a little different. It might take a little time to get acclimated. But I just saw the lineup on TV. It kinda put a smile on my face to see the guys we’ve got.”

The move gives the White Sox a run producer and solid defensive third baseman who grew into a clubhouse leader in Cincinnati.

They hope he can help lift a team that finished a disappointing fourth in the AL Central at 76-86 and struggled to score despite the presence of Jose Abreu in the middle of the lineup. The White Sox ranked 28th in the majors in runs, and their third basemen were 29th in batting average and last in RBIs.

“Certainly, we feel a lot better,” White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said. “You’ve got a middle-of-the-order presence, obviously a power hitter with extra-base ability as well and someone to help solidify the middle and make it a little tougher to come through here.”

Frazier has a $7.5 million salary next year and can become a free agent after the 2017 season.

His arrival means the White Sox will go with Brett Lawrie — acquired from Oakland last week — at second rather than third. Hahn said the White Sox were talking to Cincinnati about a trade for Frazier when that deal was completed.

“Brett gave us an answer at that time at third base should we do nothing else, and we also knew that if we were able to get Todd, Brett had the versatility to help us at second as well,” Hahn said.

Frazier — a Jersey boy dubbed the ToddFather in Cincinnati — had in many ways become the face of Cincinnati’s franchise after he won the All-Star Game Home Run Derby so dramatically in July at Great American Ball Park.

Teams started expressing an interest in Frazier during the winter meetings last week. Reds president of baseball operations Walt Jocketty said parting with him was not easy, nor was the call informing him of the deal.