Well it was nice while it lasted.
According to multiple reports, including Fan Pirates Insider Jason Mackey of the Post-Gazette, infielder Todd Frazier has opted out of his deal with the Pirates to become a free agent.
Frazier was a non-roster invitee to Spring Training but showed he still has what it takes to play in The Show.
In 33 plate appearances, Frazier went 7 for 27 for a .259 batting average and four walks.
Frazier led the Pirates in home runs with three and had a .996 on base percentage. He split his time between first and third base.
With Frazier out, Phillip Evans will likely make the club as a bench guy. He went 4 for 5 on Thursday and is currently hitting .393. Last season he hit .359 with 14 hits in 39 at bats with one home run.
A source tells Mackey that Frazier wasn’t going to make the trip north, “due to other roster management decisions.”
Mackey adds, “nothing negative from either side. But Frazier understandably wanted to make an MLB club.”
It makes sense for the Pirates to choose Evans over Frazier, with Evans at 28-years -old, he batted .359 last year for the Bucs getting 14 hits in 39 at bats in the shortened season.
Playing his first five seasons with the Cincinnati Red, Frazier has become a journeyman the past few seasons playing with the White Sox, Mets, Yankees and Rangers.
At 35, Frazier would likely have been trying to play with the Pirates to show he still has it and then become trade bait at the deadline.
Frazier showed his personality earlier this month, accurately predicting he would get a hit while having some fun mic’ed up with the Pirates broadcast on AT&T Sports.
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