Could signing of Adam Frazier mean another Royals move is imminent?

In a bit of a surprise over the weekend, the Kansas City Royals signed second baseman Adam Frazier, per veteran baseball reporter Jon Heyman. 

The one-year deal for 2024 (with a mutual option for 2025) guarantees Frazier $2M this season, with another $6.5M next year if both sides take the option.

The Royals would pay him $2.5M in 2025 if they buy out his option, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.

The signing of Frazier is interesting because it doesn't seem to fit a current need. Michael Massey is the incumbent at second base, and the Royals added utility player Garrett Hampson earlier in the offseason. 

The Royals have a glut of corner outfielders as well, with MJ Melendez, Nelson Velazquez and Hunter Renfroe. So where does Frazier fit? 

It could be Kansas City wants an alternative to Massey, who had an uneven 2023. In his first full season as a starter, he produced an abysmal slash line of .229/.274/.381/.655. On the upside, he hit for more power and struck out less during the second half. 

It could also mean the Royals might be looking to trade a young, controllable offensive piece or two for a bullpen arm or maybe even another back-of-the-rotation starter. Massey, Melendez, or both, might have some appeal for their upside. 

As for Frazier, he could serve as an everyday second baseman or a backup corner outfielder. At the plate, his career is a roller coaster. He has hit over .300 twice, as a rookie in 2016 and in 2021. He has also hit .240 or lower three times, including the past two seasons. At 32, the Royals should be expecting something closer to the lower end of that range.

Frazier sports a nice strikeout rate of only 13%, but he doesn't walk much (7.4% over his career). Not only does he make good contact, but he tends to use all fields. According to FanGraphs, for his career, he pulls the ball 39% of the time, hits up the middle 35% and goes to the opposite field 26%. He also hits ground balls and flyballs (both 37% of the time) and line drives at a healthy 27%. 

The problem seems to be he seldom hits the ball hard. FanGraphs has him making hard contact just 24% of the time. That number would help explain why his batting average on balls in play is at a league average of .298 despite the fact he hits so many line drives and why his average has trended downward. He isn't hitting many balls hard enough to get by defenders. 

While Frazier is a nice player with some positional flexibility, he seems like an odd fit for the roster as it is currently constructed. The Royals tend to keep their business close, but it shouldn't shock anyone if they announce a corresponding trade within the next few days.