5. Todd Frazier, 3B, Chicago White Sox
White Sox third baseman Todd Frazier has been on the trade market for a long time. When the White Sox signaled they were set to begin a full rebuild after trading away Chris Salw over the winter, Frazier’s name was one of the first names most observers listed as the next to go.
A free agent after the season, the 31-year-old Frazier would be a great rental option for a contender in need of an upgrade at third base, or for one searching for depth at either corner infield position. He’s no longer an above average defensive third baseman, but Frazier isn’t likely to be a hindrance at the hot corner, either.
Though Frazier’s .215 batting average through 2017 games is a career low, his .336 on base percentage is actually higher than his career rate (.318) thanks to a career best 14.5 percent walk rate this season, and his .449 slugging isn’t much lower (.462). He has 16 home runs, 14 doubles and 44 RBI as well. Frazier has set a new career high in home runs each of his last three seasons, including 40 homers in 2016. He can also steal a base when necessary, having stolen 48 bases from 2014-16 and has four steals in seven tries this year.
The Red Sox have been linked to Frazier for months, and given Boston’s struggling third base duo of Pablo Sandoval and Deven Marrero, it’s possible the club could make a run at Frazier in July. However, there are sure to be a few other buyers in the market for a rental third basemen and bench piece, including the Yankees, Astros, Rays Angels and Royals, all of whom rank in the bottom half in Wins Above Replacement for third basemen this season.