Padres trade Frazier to Mariners
The Seattle Mariners acquired second baseman/outfielder Adam Frazier from the San Diego Padres in exchange for left-hander Ray Kerr and outfielder Corey Rosier, the clubs announced Saturday.
Hey baby, I hear the blues a-callin'… pic.twitter.com/7MPnsEnVh8
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) November 27, 2021
Frazier will likely fill a utility role in Seattle but could also be used as the team's everyday second baseman. The Mariners have been pushing for an upgrade at the keystone to form a double-play tandem with shortstop J.P. Crawford.
Padres general manager A.J. Preller said his team made the deal to reallocate resources, according to Dennis Lin of The Athletic.
The Padres acquired Frazier from the Pittsburgh Pirates for three prospects last July, shortly after he made his first career All-Star appearance. He was leading the National League in hits at the time of the trade but couldn't keep up the pace in San Diego, finishing fifth in hits with a cumulative .779 OPS across 155 games.
Frazier's 2021 splits
| Team | PA | BA | OPS | H | XBH | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pirates | 428 | .324 | .836 | 125 | 36 | 32 |
| Padres | 211 | .267 | .662 | 51 | 10 | 11 |
The 29-year-old is a lifetime .281/.344/.412 hitter with 40 homers, 215 RBIs, and 30 stolen bases across six big-league seasons. While he's spent more time at second base in recent years, Frazier has plenty of experience at all three outfield positions and is a positive defender at both second and left field.
Frazier is projected by MLB Trade Rumors to earn $7.2 million in 2022, his final season of arbitration.
Even after landing Frazier, the Mariners are remaining active in the hot stove. General manager Jerry Dipoto said the team is still working to add an impact bat, according to Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times.
Dipoto on conference call with media says the #Mariners have 2 offers on the table, one which is "notable."
— Shannon Drayer (@shannondrayer) November 27, 2021
Kerr, one of the prospects headed to San Diego, was selected to the Mariners' 40-man roster in August but hasn't pitched in the majors. Originally signed as an undrafted free agent in 2017, the 27-year-old left-hander posted a 3.18 ERA and 1.06 WHIP with 60 strikeouts across 36 total appearances (one start) with Double-A Arkansas and Triple-A Tacoma last year.
Rosier, 22, was the Mariners' 12th-round selection out of UNC Greensboro this past July. The center fielder hit .390/.461/.585 with three homers, 23 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases in his first pro season at Low-A Modesto.