White Sox Acquire Todd Frazier in Three-Team Swap

A couple of hours after the White Sox, Reds and Dodgers announced their significant three-team trade Wednesday afternoon, Todd Frazier said he saw the lineup for his new team on TV and smiled. The Dodgers will ship outfielder Scott Schebler and infielders Jose Peraza and Brandon Dixon to the Reds. The Dodgers sent infielder Jose Peraza and two prospects to the Cincinnati Reds, who moved All-Star third baseman Todd Frazier to the White Sox.

Frazier, who likely pushes new White Sox infielder Brett Lawrie from third base to second, batted. He hit. 255 with 35 home runs and 89 RBI last season.

The White Sox were looking to add some pop while solidifying third base, and they are counting on Todd Frazier to provide it. But they addressed some needs with an upside arm in Frankie Montas, who could be a starter or work in high-leverage relief during his future, along with potential platoon players in the speedy Micah Johnson along with Trayce Thompson, who may play versus left-handed starters for Joc Pederson.

Now with Frazier gone we can expect Suarez to find his way into the lineup either at third base or shortstop with a healthy Cozart at the other. He was acquired at the trade deadline and had a cup of coffee with the Dodgers, showing off his +++ speed that will probably give him a career and rated him as the Dodgers’ fourth-best prospect. Cincinnati apparently wasn’t interested in any prospects from the White Sox, as all three players they acquired are from the Dodgers organization.

Dixon, 23, finished last season with the Double-A Tulsa Drillers.

Montas, 22, made his major-league debut last season, posting a 4.80 ERA in seven appearances. He was initially acquired by the White Sox from the Red Sox in the Jake Peavy deal, since developing into a very good prospect. He played 116 games for Oakland in the 2013-14 seasons, hitting.

Schebler appeared in 19 games with the Dodgers and hit three home runs with a. 250 average. If this year’s group isn’t a winning combination, there’s a good chance it’s his last season as manager, as he is in the final year of his contract. The Reds, whose record was the second worst in baseball behind the Philadelphia Phillies’ 63-99 record, traded away several players at the trading deadlined. Baseball America’s J.J. Cooper, who ranks the Reds’ Top 30 prospects for the magazine and its annual prospect book, says Peraza would be anywhere from the Reds’ No. 1 to No. 3 prospect if he were re-ranking the system.

As for the departed, Jose Peraza was a candidate to possibly win the second base job out of Spring Training. Though Thompson’s.295/.363/.533 slash line is much-improved over what he produced in the minors, many observers feel Thompson is capable of providing strong defense from all three outfield positions and hitting 20-25 home runs. 260 with 23 doubles, 13 homers and 39 RBI in 104 games at Triple-A Chatanooga.