Mets: Take note contenders, Todd Frazier is hungry for a championship

Todd Frazier is having a good year at the plate and should interest contenders at the trade deadline. More importantly, the New York Mets third baseman is showing off how he can make a difference in other ways.

The greatest quality about Todd Frazier isn’t his bat or glove. When he first joined the New York Mets, the asset many looked forward to most was the locker room presence he would bring to the team. Unfortunately, in year one, he spent a lot of time on the sidelines due to injury. By the time he did return, the team was dismantled by other injuries and not playing up to expectations. His opportunity to lead them anywhere became impossible.

While Frazier didn’t play particularly well in 2018 either, he has bounced back well in 2019. He’s having an objectively productive season just in time to get dealt to a contender.

We’ve seen a different side of Frazier this year. In 2018, he felt like a spokesperson willing to take bullets for losses. He had a few moments, one of which included a rather unsportsmanlike ball switch in the stands.

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Judgment of his “it’s not cheating unless you get caught” decision aside (even though he later admitted to it), Frazier is finishing up his Mets career well. We know already he won’t be back next year. Likely, he won’t finish the season with the team either.

Instead, expect Frazier to become a piece some team out there views as a missing ingredient. A young, inexperienced squad could use him on their bench to rally the players for the long road ahead. This was something he did well with the New York Yankees in 2017. In 2019, he’ll have an opportunity to do it somewhere else.

Barring injury, I don’t see too many wonderful fits for Frazier as a starter. The American League could offer a few more at-bats with the DH spot in place for either him or the team’s regular corner infielders. If the Mets are willing to pay a chunk of the salary owed to him for the rest of 2019, I cannot believe all playoff-hopeful clubs would pass on adding a veteran like Frazier to the club.

I’ve already speculated on a few potential landing spots for Frazier. As teams fade away this month and others emerge, the fits will change. Frazier will, nonetheless, remain a target of teams hoping to add depth.

The word I would use to describe Frazier in 2019 is feisty. He came into this year as a guy who needed to play well in order to get a big-league contract next season. At 33, it seemed possible that he would need to settle on a minor-league pact for 2020 if things didn’t go well. They have and we’re seeing his experience shine through.

Frazier isn’t afraid to go after players. He had a run-in with ex-teammate Adam Eaton earlier this year. Most recently, a spat with Jake Arrieta put him in the spotlight. Frazier was hit by an errant pitch then tossed from the game along with Mickey Callaway. The Mets rallied in the inning to take the lead over the Philadelphia Phillies. Driven a little mad by Frazier, Arrieta made some “bro-threats” toward the Mets third baseman after the game which suggested he would “put a dent his skull.”

Yeah. Way to go, Jake.

Winning in the postseason is not something Frazier is all that familiar with. He lost both series he played in while with the Cincinnati Reds. During his Yankees stint, Frazier made it to the ALCS only to fall to the Houston Astros. His hunger for a World Series Ring looks ravenous of late.

Next. Under control in 2020 Mets who could be traded

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After a rough start to begin the season and some bumps along the way, this year has been a good one for Frazier. He has had clutch hits, sometimes dashed by bullpen implosions. His days in New York are numbered. At least he’s going out embarrassing as many National League East foes as he can.

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