The Pirates added a power-hitting corner infielder Friday by signing Todd Frazier to a minor league deal with a non-roster invitation to spring training, according to a source.
Frazier, a two-time All-Star, will earn $1.5 million if he makes the team.
Frazier, 35, has a career .242 batting average with 242 career home runs in 10 major league seasons, with the Cincinnati Reds, Chicago White Sox, Texas Rangers, New York Yankees and two stints with the New York Mets.
Last season, Frazier slashed .236/.302/.382 with nine doubles, a triple, four homers and 12 RBIs split between the Rangers and Mets after being traded at the deadline last August.
Frazier gives the Pirates a potential platoon player at first base with Colin Moran who can also back up Ke’Bryan Hayes at third. Frazier has played predominantly at third base, with 1,053 career games at the hot corner and only 109 at first base. Last season, however, he split time between the positions, playing 15 games at first and 27 at third.
Frazier has had great success playing at PNC Park, where he has a career slash line of .307/.379/.553 with nine doubles, two triples, eight homers and 23 RBIs in 39 games.
