A familiar face is returning to the Pittsburgh Pirates on a one-year major-league deal: Adam Frazier.
Frazier, 33, agreed to a deal with the Pirates for 2025 worth $1.525 million, a source confirmed to TribLive on Tuesday.
Frazier was a sixth-round draft pick (No. 179 overall) by the Pirates in 2013 and spent parts of six seasons from 2016-21 with the club before being traded mid-year to the San Diego Padres.
He was an All-Star in 2021 when he hit .305 with five homers and 43 RBIs over 98 games with the Pirates. After the 2021 season, he was traded by San Diego to the Seattle Mariners.
During his time in a Pirates uniform, Frazier played in 608 games, batting .283 with 39 homers and 204 RBIs.
Frazier spent the 2024 campaign with the Kansas City Royals, appearing in 104 games, hitting .202 with four homers and 22 RBIs while slashing .282/.294/.576.
Primarily a second baseman who also can play the outfield, Frazier was deployed at second and third base last year with Kansas City in addition to both corner outfield positions. Through 1,066 career MLB games, Frazier has played 734 games at second base and 141 in left field.
Frazier’s career also took him to the Baltimore Orioles, for whom, in 2023, he set career highs in homers (13) and RBIs (60) while hitting .240 with a .300/.396/.696 slash line.
Frazier’s addition gives the Pirates a utility option in the infield and outfield.
Last year at second base, Frazier’s primary position, the Pirates used five players: Nick Gonzales (83 games), Jared Triolo (42), Isiah Kiner-Falefa (15), Alika Williams (15) and Nick Yorke (7).
Frazier was also utilized as a designated hitter by the Royals last year a career-high 16 times.
In a corresponding move, right-handed pitcher Elvis Alvarado was designated for assignment to make room for Frazier on the 40-man roster.
Borucki inks deal
Lefty reliever Ryan Borucki was signed to a minor-league deal by the Pirates on Monday evening.
Borucki was limited considerably last year by injuries following a solid debut campaign with the Pirates in 2023 when he went 4-0 with a 2.45 ERA, becoming one of the club’s most dependable bullpen options.
Enduring a stint on the 60-day injured list last season, he was appeared in only 14 games and struggled to find his footing, producing a 7.36 ERA over 11 innings.
He’ll enter spring training this year as a non-roster invitee, with a $1.15 million salary on the line if he cracks the MLB club.
Borucki was originally a minor-league signing by the Pirates in May 2023 after he elected free agency from the Chicago Cubs organization.
Over 38 ensuing appearances in ’23, Borucki struck out 33 with only four walks in 401⁄3 innings.
