Former Cincinnati Reds fan favorite Todd Frazier opted out of his deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates, making him a free agent.
The Pirates did not plan on including Frazier on the 26-man roster for Opening Day, per multiple reports.
More from post-gazette.com's Jason Mackey:
"I really enjoyed the time being around him. He’s a fun guy to be around, a good player. I think the reasoning for us is versatility," (Pirates manager Derek) Shelton said of Frazier. "I don’t know if we’re going to take 13 or 14 pitchers. If we do take 14, then versatility is going to be really important, and I think that kind of led to our decision."
Frazier was mic'd up earlier this month during a television broadcast of a Spring Training game between the Pirates and Baltimore Orioles.
Frazier, in camp with the Pirates as a non-roster invitee, was added for his right-handed power and veteran presence, according to Shelton.
Frazier, 35, hit .224 with two homers in 51 plate appearances for the Mets last season after they acquired him from the Texas Rangers in August for Ryder Ryan. The Mets declined their team option on Frazier after the season.
He's hit .242 with 218 home runs over 10 big-league seasons.
Frazier tweeted last month that video shared via Twitter of Frazier celebrating a 2013 home run he promised then-honorary batboy Ted Kremer made his night. Frazier and Kremer reunited in 2018 at Great American Ball Park in advance of a Reds-Mets game.
The Reds traded Frazier to the Chicago White Sox in Dec. 2015 in a deal that brought Jose Peraza, Scott Schebler and Brandon Dixon from the Dodgers to Cincinnati.
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