Boston Red Sox fans haven’t been thrilled with the team’s lack of major league free-agent signings this winter, but this week, they added a bit more depth to the organization.
The Boston outfield is young, talented, and deep at the major league level. But the Red Sox grew a bit thinner at Triple-A to begin the offseason when prospect Jhostynxon Garcia was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Trayce Thompson, who spent the entire season in the Red Sox’s Triple-A outfield, remains unsigned.
On Friday, Chase Ford of MiLB Central reported that the Red Sox had agreed to terms with Matt Fraizer, a 27-year-old outfielder who had spent the last 6 1/2 years in the Pirates organization, to a minor-league contract. That report was confirmed by several others, including Red Sox insider Chris Cotillo of MassLive.
Fraizer, once a third-round pick, had been stuck at Triple-A in the Pirates organization for the last year and a half. He had a solid offensive season for the Indianapolis Indians, however, posting an .813 OPS in 62 games and clubbing 18 doubles. He also stole 14 bases.
The Red Sox, perhaps as much as any team that has had recent regular-season success, have relied heavily on players to come up from Triple-A and make an impact. Case in point: second baseman Nick Sogard and right fielder Nate Eaton, who played a combined 71 games in the majors this season, both started two of the three games of Boston’s Wild Card Series against the New York Yankees in October.
It’s highly unlikely Fraizer will crack the opening day roster, as barring a trade, Jarren Duran, Roman Anthony, Wilyer Abreu, and Ceddanne Rafaela will all be ready to roll for Boston. Kristian Campbell lurks as a depth option for the outfield, and several others in Triple-A could have a leg up on Fraizer as well.
However, the Red Sox’s motto for their players at the upper levels of the minors seems to be “stay ready so you don’t have to get ready.” It’s not unfathomable that Fraizer could appear in the majors at some point this year.
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