Adam Frazier, Welcome To San Diego!

The current MLB player in hits in the National League and overall in the Majors has been traded to the San Diego Padres! Padres GM A.J. Preller has done it yet again and he is not done yet! Frazier is a very solid start to the trade deadline for the Padres.

I am so glad to not only see Frazier in a Padres uniform now, but also for the fact that he was one of my targets for San Diego to grab other than Whit Merrifield who is also on the trading block. (Check out my blog "San Diego Has Had Enough of Eric Hosmer" for the proof.) Frazier is now a Padre and for little to no cost, in fact, the Pirates gave $1.4 million as a part of the deal so that is nice! Those who do not know Preller automatically assume that prospects such as Luis Campusano, Mackenzie Gore or C.J. Abrams are off to Pittsburgh in this type of deal. Not on Preller's watch! Instead, the Pirates have received IF Tucupita Marcano, OF Jack Suwinski and RHP Mitchell Miliano. That is an incredible deal on San Diego's end for the first time All-Star.

Marcano has had some experience this year at the Major Legaue level which is impressive. Marcano goes way back to July of 2016 in which he signed with the Padres as a free agent and got the call up this season mainly playing at second or third base. At 21 years of age, Marcano shows a lot of potential but will fit better for a rebuilding Pirates team compared to being thrown in the fire for a contending franchise. Marcano has only slashed a .182/.280/.205 line for the Padres in 50 plate appearances. Marcano has done much better after being sent back down to Triple-A and the Pirates have much confidence in Marcano's skill set and versatility.

For Suwinski in Double-A, the outfielder posted a .269/.398/.551 line so far with the San Antonio Missions. Suwinski usually struggles with average and avoiding strikeouts in which he already has 74 this season in just 216 AB's. Lastly, Miliano has held a 3.16 ERA so far in Single-A.

So now for the Padres return, many are confused or just curious on where the team will settle Frazier since the Padres have so much depth and talent already. Of course, more moves could be done including potential Hosmer and Myers trades, but for now we should avoid that and see what this lineup could be and the impact it now has in the NL West. I believe a possible lineup could look like this:

Adam Frazier 2B/OF

Tommy Pham OF

Fernando Tatis Jr SS

Manny Machado 3B

Jake Cronenworth 1B

Wil Myers RF

Trent Grisham LF

Austin Nola C

Pitcher Spot (Hosmer/Profar DH)

That lineup has depth and just great versatility to it in which Jayce Tingler can mix things around (I hope that would not be the case and he can just settle on something for once.) But San Diego is looking really good to make a run for that division lead. It will not be easy but Preller understands that this team needs more offense. I think you could even argue a case that Frazier could be like Cronenworth and bat third in the lineup.

Frazier is just a well balanced player that has improved nicely on defense and has avoided striking out which I love. He puts the ball in play! As of now, Frazier a lefty, is batting .299 versus LHP with an OPS of .850. Against righties he is even better by having a .333 BA in 279 AB's while having 27 walks and also 27 strikeouts. Throughout his career, Frazier has a K% of just 13.1 while this season only is at 10.7. Frazier reminds me of Cronenworth which is great. A left handed bat with great discipline and a gritty player that does everything to win ball games. Frazier stated that the Padres are the most fun team in baseball and he even has watched them on television after getting home from PNC Park! Sign him to a 15-year extension! Frazier is going to give his all to help San Diego win baseball games and to bring a championship here. Whether it is batting first or not in the lineup or even playing elsewhere besides second, Frazier will listen and do what is necessary for this club. With that said, Adam Frazier, welcome to San Diego!