SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. — It was common knowledge that infielder Kevin Frandsen was being shopped by the San Francisco Giants this Spring. According to a Tweet from Chronicle beat writer Henry Schulman, the Giants found a buyer.
Schulman Tweeted: "Giants trade Frandsen to Red Sox for PTBNL (player to be named later) or cash."
At one point the Giants and their fans had high hopes for the San Jose product, but injuries, inconsistency at the big league level, and a glut of infielders and utility men made the one-time top prospect expendable.
"I'm going from one class organization to another class organization," said Frandsen, his voice taught with emotion when speaking to reporters. "I'm pretty lucky in that. You can hear it in my voice I'm kind of shocked. It's a little different knowing I came up in this organization. I'm going away and that's bittersweet.
"I'm pretty excited for the opportunity and that Boston wanted me. I'm sure I'll have a text in five minutes from Dustin (Pedroia)."
The Giants gave Frandsen, 27, a fair share of chances this spring to either separate himself from the pack and make the team, or at the very least make himself a commodity for another. It's clear the latter is what took place, as Frandsen heads to Boston, and may play a back-up role to his close friend and Northern California native Pedroia.
Though Frandsen has primarily been a second basemen, the Red Sox, who may be seeking middle infield-depth, with injuries to Jed Lowrie, may look to Frandsen at short, who played the position well defensively last season with the Giants. It's also an option the Frandsen fills in a minor-league hole for the Sox' Triple-A team in Pawtucket.
In 17 Cactus League games this Spring, Frandsen had just nine hits in 40 at bats (.225), only one extra-base hit -- a double -- and drove in just five runs.
Last year Frandsen had an excellent camp, battling for the Opening Day second base job, before losing out to Emmanuel Burriss. This year Burriss is out of the picture with a second foot surgery in the past 10 months, but Freddy Sanchez -- assuming he gets and stays healthy -- should get most of the ABs at second. Juan Uribe returns to play a significant role as a utility man, and Mark DeRosa's bat will keep him in the lineup at whichever position the Giants need.
That left Frandsen the odd man out, and considering his age and lack of production in the Majors, the Giants couldn't expend a valuable roster spot on him.
Frandsen, was drafted by the Giants in the 12th round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft and has batted .240 (98-for-408) with 18 doubles, one triple, seven home runs and 39 RBI in 174 Major League games with San Francisco.
General manager Brian Sabean who engaged in a bout of verbal sparring with Frandsen last season after demoting the infielder talked about the move without much emotion.
"It was academic," Sabean said. "We needed roster space and there's a lot of competition here. He should benefit from the change of scenery. He's pressing hard to make his hometown team and I think this is better for both parties. And we also have other options internally. This is good. It clears a spot and get him over there in time to maybe show what he can do."
The roster space Sabean is referring to is likely going to Todd Wellemeyer, who will take Frandsen's spot on the 40-man roster in order to be the team's fifth starter. It's expected that another move will be required -- possibly Fred Lewis -- in order to make a spot for right-handed reliever Guillermo Mota who's been pitching well enough in the Spring to break camp with the team.
Sources: San Jose Mercury News, San Francisco Chronicle.
Comments