The Red Sox have a logjam when it comes to major league outfielders but entered the winter a little light on depth at Triple-A Worcester. They made a move to address that this week.
As first reported by Milb Central’s Chase Ford, Boston agreed to a minor league contract with outfielder Matt Fraizer, a deal Fraizer himself confirmed on Instagram. It likely includes an invite to major league spring training.
Fraizer, who turns 28 in mid-January, has never played in the majors and to this point, has spent his entire pro career with Pittsburgh. He’s a former third-round pick out of the University of Arizona (2019) who was a fringe prospect in the Pirates’ system over the last half-decade. The California native reached Triple-A for the first time in 2024, then appeared in 62 games with the Pirates top affiliate in Indianapolis this year. Playing all three outfield positions (mostly right field), he hit .305 with three homers, 18 doubles, 20 RBIs, 14 steals and an .813 OPS in 202 plate appearances.
Fraizer was the Pirates’ minor league player of the year in 2021, when he posted a .939 OPS across High-A and Double-A, but stalled out in the upper levels of their system. Last season, he missed significant time due to injury before electing free agency in November.
With Roman Anthony, Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu and Masataka Yoshida on the major league roster and utility men Kristian Campbell, Nate Eaton, Romy Gonzalez and Nick Sogard all in the mix as depth options, the Red Sox have their fair share of outfielders in the big leagues. The Triple-A group had taken a hit, though, with the trade of Jhostynxon Garcia to the Pirates and veteran Trayce Thompson hitting free agency. Fraizer joins Braiden Ward, Phillip Sikes and Corey Rosier as outfielders not on the 40-man roster who could see significant playing time with the WooSox.
