Projecting the Pittsburgh Pirates Opening Day Lineup

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PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 28: Adam Frazier #26 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action against the Philadelphia Phillies during a game at Citizens Bank Park on August 28, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 28: Adam Frazier #26 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action against the Philadelphia Phillies during a game at Citizens Bank Park on August 28, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

Second Base

Adam Frazier is penciled in as the team’s second baseman for Opening Day. But don’t be surprised if that changes at some point before the end of the 2020 season.

Frazier produced roughly league average results at the plate with a .278/.336/.417 line with a 97 wRC+ and 99 OPS+ through 608 plate appearances. He also posted an exact league average wOBA at .320. Frazier tied his career high in home runs at 10, and exceeded his career high doubles total at 33.

Fielding wise, Frazier was excellent. This was different from his career norms of being a below average defender. Despite his -1 DRS, he had +7 total zone runs above average, a 2.9 UZR, 1.6 range runs above average, and an impressive 11 outs above average, which places him within the top 97th percentile of OAA.

All of that said, the Pittsburgh Pirates long term plans at second base likely do not include Frazier. Due to this, it would not be a surprise to see the team trade him before the August 31 trade deadline. After all, the team did spend much of the offseason discussing him in trade talks with other clubs.