Looking at Three Off-Season Goals for the Pittsburgh Pirates

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CLEVELAND, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 25: Adam Frazier #26 of the Pittsburgh Pirates rounds third to score on a single by Ke’Bryan Hayes #13 during the eighth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on September 25, 2020 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Trade Adam Frazier

This needs to be priority number one. Adam Fraizer needs to be traded. There is just too much middle infield depth on this team to let Frazier eat up playing time. This year, Frazier batted just .230/.297/.364 though 230 plate appearances with a 81 wRC+.

But Frazier had another Frazier type season, struggling in the first half, only to end on a hot streak. Through his first 111 plate appearances of the year, Frazier hit just .198/.234/.330 with a .245 wOBA and 50 wRC+. But in his final 123 plate appearances yielded a .271/.361/.402 line, .338 wOBA and 112 wRC+. In the second half of 2020, Frazier also saw his walk rate spike to an outstanding 10.6% rate and an identical 10.6% strikeout rate.

Whoever the Pirates trade Frazier to, it’s not going to be for his bat. It’s going to be for his defense. At second base this year, Frazier had +4 DRS, 0.5 range runs above average and a 1.9 UZR. The big number I want to point out is Frazier finished second in infield outs above average at +6. He’s also useful in the outfield as well having +2 DRS, 0.9 range runs above average and 1.7 UZR in left field. Frazier also has experience in center and right field as well, making him a solid utility option.

The Pirates need to find a way to give Cole Tucker regular playtime next year at a middle infield position. I get he wasn’t all that great in 2020, but he’s still young and the Pirates need to, at the very least, give him a shot at proving himself. The same goes for Kevin Newman.

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