The White Sox got their third baseman.
As part of a three-team trade with the Cincinnati Reds and the Los Angeles Dodgers, the White Sox acquired two-time All-Star third baseman Todd Frazier in exchange for a trio of prospects.
Frazier, who turns 30 in February, hit a career high 35 home runs for the Reds in 2015. His offense, combined with a solid glove at third base, propelled him to be worth 4.7 WAR in 2014 and 4.4 WAR in 2015. The Toms River, N.J. native represented the Reds in the 2014 and 2015 All-Star Games and won the 2015 Home Run Derby.
Frazier will be under White Sox control through 2017 and is set to earn $7.5 million in 2016 as part of a two-year deal he signed with Cincinnati last February. He'll be eligible for arbitration before the 2017 season.
"Todd is one of the finer all-around third basemen in the league," general manager Rick Hahn said. "He is a high-character, smart baseball player who will provide an impact bat in the middle of our order. He solidifies us defensively at third base and provides a great presence in our lineup and in the clubhouse.”
The White Sox trade right-hander Frank Montas, infielder Micah Johnson and outfielder Trayce Thompson to the Dodgers to complete their end of the deal. The Dodgers sent three prospects to Cincinnati as part of the trade.
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MLB
Johnson was the White Sox Opening Day second baseman in 2015 but was sent to Triple-A in May after hitting .270/.333/.297 and playing sub-par defense. The 24-year-old Indianapolis native has a career .368 on-base percentage and 153 stolen bases in 385 minor league games.
Thompson exploded with five home runs and an .896 OPS in 44 games as a rookie last summer, but didn't have a clear opening in the White Sox outfield with Melky Cabrera, Adam Eaton and Avisail Garcia all locking down spots.
Montas was rated by MLB.com as the No. 91 prospect before the 2015 season and made his major league debut Sept. 2. The flamethrowing 22-year-old right-hander allowed eight runs with 20 strikeouts in 15 September innings with the White Sox last fall.
The reported trade likely will cement Brett Lawrie, who the White Sox acquired from Oakland earlier this month, into second base.