Adam

Frazier

Gonzalez gets a breather after making 14 consecutive starts at the keystone since June 13. It’ll be veteran utility specialist Adam Frazier taking over at second base. The 26-year-old infielder has been excellent of late, hitting .333 (20-for-60) with two homers and seven RBI over his last 15 games. There’s some appeal here for fantasy managers in extremely deep mixed leagues.

Frazier finally got the Pirates on the board with an RBI knock off of Jameson Taillon in the sixth inning, trimming their deficit to two runs at 3-1. That would be his only hit in three at-bats on the night. For the season, the 33-year-old infielder is hitting .259/.322/.352 with three homers, 18 RBI and four stolen bases.

Gonzales’ rehab stint started off in difficult fashion, as he wasn’t quite ready to play regularly as he attempted to overcome an ankle fracture. Things had gotten better recently, though, and he wound up going 7-for-22 in his last five games for Triple-A Indianapolis. He should reclaim his role as the Pirates’ primary second baseman. Adam Frazier, who has been unusually productive of late, will probably start seeing time in the outfield against righties, which will probably result in fewer at-bats for Alexander Canario.

There goes any slim chance of Frazier being cut when Nick Gonzales comes off the IL. He raises his average from .223 to .239 and his OBP from .292 to 314 tonight.

He’s batting .158. It was a bad idea for the Pirates to sign Frazier, but he was supposed to be a bench guy. Unfortunately, he’s now the starting second baseman with Nick Gonzales out, and he’s just not getting the job done. If they were about winning, the Pirates would try someone younger.

Frazier singled home Jared Triolo to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead. The veteran infielder/outfielder hit at the top of the Pittsburgh lineup Wednesday, but remains a non-factor in fantasy leagues.

Frazier, 33, has been out of action with a back injury, but the left-handed hitting infielder/outfielder is feeling well enough to hit against the Phillies.

The deal is worth a reported $1.525 million, so that’s not a problem. The issue is that he’s going to be handed a roster spot whether he deserves it or not, and after a season in which he hit .202/.282/.294, he doesn’t warrant the treatment. It’s shameful that the Pirates have Paul Skenes, Jared Jones and Oneil Cruz all making the minimum and are doing next to nothing to try to contend.

Frazier is coming off a bad year in Kansas City that saw him hit .202/.282/.294 in 294 plate appearances, and all this is likely to do for Pittsburgh is send a younger, more talented player back to Triple-A. Frazier hopefully won’t be playing much more than once per week.

Frazier will receive $2.5 million as a buyout and is now a free agent. He hit .202 with four home runs and 22 RBI in 104 games. The Royals save $6 million by not picking up Frazier’s $8.5 million option, which was likely an easy decision considering his lack of production last year.