Todd Frazier did his homework, says White Sox can win

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Todd Frazier believes he came to a team that will contend. So in his view, everything about the trade to the White Sox from the Cincinnati Reds is right with him.

Tough as it was to leave an organization where he felt the love from an adoring fan base, the Reds are in rebuild mode, and Frazier wants to win now.

“I did a little homework [on the Sox],” he said Sunday morning. “I looked online a little bit and saw the capabilities we have with this team. The pitching staff is great, through the bullpen and starters, and I’ve said this all the time, if we’re healthy, if the team is healthy and we’ve got guys who produce and do their jobs, we’ll be fine. Health is No. 1.”

Frazier gives the Sox a good glove at third base, a middle of the order bat to protect Jose Abreu and a likeable presence in the clubhouse. Surrounded by a sizable media group at his locker, Frazier was as comfortable as can be.

“I like the pressure,” he said. “I don’t mind it at all. Baseball, all the situations you’re in are pressure-filled. With the fans watching you, there’s pressure. The situations, getting guys in [to score from third base], and I think that’s something that every team needs to work on. You’ve got guys on scoring position, you’ve got to find a way to get them in whether you get a hit or not. That’s how you win ballgames, RBIs.”

Frazier has already been part of discussions about situational hitting, and how the Sox often fell short in 2015.

“Some guys were talking the other day about situations that didn’t work out too well,” he said. “When those situations arise, we’ve got to focus on doing our job and not putting too much pressure on each other.”

Asked if he will lead by example with words or actions, Frazier said, “kind of both.”

“Being from New Jersey, I talk a lot, so man, that’s kind of a little bit of it,” he said. “But you try to lead by example. As a good leader, you need be people behind you to back you up. You can’t do it single-handedly. Coming into a new complex and a new team, I’m not going to be as boisterous. I’m not going to be crazy. I have to find my little niche, find my way in there. If guys have questions for me, that’s fine, we’ll talk about it. We have a bunch of veteran guys here already, so why not follow their lead or help out as much as you can”