MLB Roundup 1/13: Todd Frazier signs with the Rangers

Rangers sign Todd Frazier

The Rangers entered the offseason looking to make a splash in their lineup, coming close to signing Anthony Rendon and being in on Josh Donaldson for most of the offseason until recently falling out of that sweepstakes. They have fallen on their backup plan, on Sunday signing Todd Frazier to a one-year deal worth $5 million guaranteed. There is a team option for 2021 as well. Texas still lags behind the Astros and Athletics in their division most likely, but they have had a solid offseason. In addition to this signing, they have traded for Corey Kluber and signed Kyle Gibson and Jordan Lyles. They are opening up a new stadium this season and while these deals certainly aren’t as exciting or helpful as what was rumored, it pushes Texas in the right direction. With Frazier specifically they get a guy who can provide a consistently solid bat with good power.

Sox Spin: With Texas not going expensive at third base, they have some extra wiggle room for another addition or two. They could really use a center fielder, which means they are an obvious candidate to swing a deal for Jackie Bradley Jr.

Dodgers sign Alex Wood

Prior to last season as part of a move to maneuver below the luxury tax threshold, the Dodgers traded Alex Wood in a multi-player deal to the Reds. Wood only started seven games all year due to injury. Now, he’s back in L.A., as the Dodgers have brought back the lefty on a one-year, $4 million deal. There is a chance to get the value up to $10 million with incentives. Wood was a big part of the Dodgers from 2016-2018, particularly in that middle season when he finished ninth in Cy Young voting and threw a gem in the World Series against the Astros. The southpaw has injury questions and was killed by the long ball last year in his limited time on the mound, but he fills in the back of a Dodgers rotation that is trying to replicate the depth they’ve boasted during most of this run of success.

Sox Spin: In the event the Red Sox trade David Price, Wood would have been the type of pitcher to go after to fill that hole. As we’ve said many times, Chaim Bloom can’t be expected to rush any deals just for the sake of getting something done, but at the same time replacement options are becoming harder and harder to come by.