In the final days of the Pirates' season, most players inside the home clubhouse at PNC Park were searching for answers to problems that plagued them at the plate.
Adam Frazier, on the other hand, was hopeful that he had already found a solution to what ailed him for six weeks. He batted .304 in 54 games following the All-Star break and, in his mind, proved to everyone he was much more than a utility player.
However, that production did little to guarantee him a spot as an everyday player for the Pirates in 2018. With Josh Harrison potentially being shopped in a trade and a crowded bench returning, where does the 25-year-old fit into the club's plans?
The Pirates' moves, or lack thereof, this offseason could answer that question.
Although Frazier's .275 average ranked second on the Pirates in 2017, he currently does not have a clear path to regular playing time.
Harrison, who started 83 games at second base and 49 at third, will make $10.25 million in 2018 and has team options for two more seasons. David Freese, a Gold Glove finalist, is also set to return, although his workload will surely be monitored after he slashed .263/.368/.371 in 130 games.
The Pirates are expected to have Andrew McCutchen, Gregory Polanco and Starling Marte in the outfield on opening day. Additionally, the Pirates' bench could include Sean Rodriguez, Max Moroff and José Osuna, who is currently playing third base in the Venezuelan Winter League.
There's also the possibility that Jung Ho Kang, who missed 2017 because he was not granted a visa after a third DUI conviction in his native South Korea, will return and regain his spot as the starting third baseman.
Frazier's versatility is invaluable for Clint Hurdle, but can Hurdle afford to only use Frazier as a utility player?
After all, the Pirates ranked 27th in batting average, 28th in runs, 29th in home runs and 28th in OPS. McCutchen's renaissance was arguably the silver lining behind a forgettable season, but Frazier also emerged as a threat at the top of the order.
"I guess I proved I could play everyday here," Frazier told DKPittsburghSports.com last month. "It’s been an up-and-down year. A lot of learning. First full season, so learn what adjustments need to be made throughout the year and going into the offseason in order to continue to improve."
Frazier, a left-handed hitter, slashed .276/.344/.399 with six home runs, 53 RBI and an OPS+ of 95 — only 6 points lower than Harrison's — in 121 games. His .415 average with runners in scoring position after the All-Star break ranked fourth in Major League Baseball.
He also excelled against lefties with a .304 average and was the Pirates' most-used leadoff hitter. Frazier recorded a 1.1 fWAR, and his BABIP of .306 this season and .353 in 66 games in 2016 indicate his production is not simply luck.
His swinging strike percentage and walk-to-strikeout ratio improved from 2016 to 2017.
When asked how many hitters he’s witnessed like Frazier, Harrison said, “Very few. That’s pretty much all I’ve got; very few.”
Frazier was among the top hitters in the National League in May. He batted .361 through his first 28 games in 2017, hitting three home runs and driving in 18, including back-to-back three-RBI games in Atlanta on May 24 and 25.
But he slashed just .181/.250/.489 with 0 home runs and 10 RBI over his next 39 games, culminating in an 0-for-25 skid entering the All-Star break.
Frazier was trying to lift the ball too much, which led to weaker contact. However, he rediscovered his swing, proving what he was already confident of — that what he accomplished for the first seven weeks of the season was no fluke.
"Once you start pressing and start chasing pitches out of the zone or pressing in the field, that’s when stuff starts to happen you don’t want to happen," Frazier said. "Stay confident and just play your game. There’s a reason you’re here. The organization trusted in you to be here. 'Stay confident' is the main thing for anybody."
Frazier views his second half as a blueprint for success in 2018, including what he was able to accomplish defensively. That will surely be a factor in the decision-making during what is a challenging offseason for the Pirates. Their payroll for 2018 is currently approaching $103 million, which would be a franchise record on Opening Day.
They'll surely make a trade to create payroll space since there are holes on the projected 25-man roster. Harrison is the most likely to be dealt. That, of course, would create a vacancy at second base, but Frazier may not be best suited to play there.
Frazier appeared in 52 games in left field, 42 at second, 15 in right, four in center and one at both short and third.
His ultimate zone rating in the outfield this season was 0.4 while it was -3 at second base. Additionally, his outs above average in the outfield was tied for 40th in Major League Baseball. Perhaps Frazier, who is capable of playing all three outfield spots, is better suited as the Pirates' fourth outfielder with the occasional start at second base.
However, the Pirates may be willing to take a risk on Frazier's defense at second base. After all, they could use his bat in the lineup with Kang unlikely to play in 2018 and the regression of both Freese and Francisco Cervelli.
If Neal Huntington chooses to search externally for either a fourth outfielder or a replacement for Harrison, the prices in free agency will be far greater than the $549,500 Frazier made in 2017.
If the Pirates decide to keep Harrison, Frazier lacks experience at third base, which is one position in need of an upgrade. Frazier has not played more than five games in a season at third during his professional career. So, the Pirates are faced with a decision of whether to bet on Frazier in a more prominent role.
Huntington told reporters last month the hope is that Kang, Marte and Polanco will be able to contribute in 2018, but there is also a need for the rest of the team's core to continue to improve.
That includes Frazier — wherever he ends up playing.
"Ideally, those guys come back and they’re as productive as we anticipated them being, but we also need growth from other spots and we need some guys to continue to move forward or we need to find some options to make us better," Huntington said.
