Mets make two trades with Rangers to acquire Todd Frazier and Robinson Chirinos

In two separate deals with the Texas Rangers, the Mets have acquired veteran catcher Robinson Chirinos and familiar face Todd Frazier. The Mets are sending a player to be named later to Texas in each deal, as well as $360,000 in cash considerations in the Chirinos deal.

Along with pitching help, the Mets were looking for a catcher at the trading deadline, with Wilson Ramos underperforming and Tomas Nido on the COVID-19 injured list. The Mets had reported interest in Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez, but apparently Boston’s price was “very high” and the two sides were unable to make a deal. The Mets instead turn to the 36-year-old Chirinos, who has posted a miserable -2 wRC+ in 49 plate appearances so far this season with the Rangers. The veteran backstop doesn’t exactly come with a sparkling resume defensively or with the bat, but he exceeded expectations for the Astros in 2019, putting up a 2.3 fWAR season in Houston.

Todd Frazier has not exactly been tearing the cover off the ball for the Rangers either; he has a .241/.322/.380 slash line with an 84 wRC+ in 121 plate appearances in 2020. But he is a known quantity for the Mets and gave them a very Todd Frazier season in 2019, providing the veteran presence that the organization often craves—with 21 dingers to boot. It is less clear than Chirinos where Frazier fits in to the team’s plans as far as playing time is concerned, but J.D. Davis remains a bit banged up and perhaps the Mets were looking for some reinforcement at the third base position. Nonetheless, the Mets’ prodigal New Jersey-born son has returned to Queens.