Todd Frazier talking to Reds, trying to avoid arbitration

Todd Frazier said he and his agent continue to talk with the Reds in hopes of getting a deal done before a potential arbitration hearing.

"We've talked about a variety of different things," Frazier said. "Hopefully, we'll get something done before the hearing."

Frazier was asked not to reveal when the hearing is. Frazier is first-time arbitration-eligible. He filed for $5.7 million. The club countered at $3.9 million.

The Reds have not taken a player to arbitration since they beat Chris Reitsma in 2004.

Frazier would like to avoid the hearing.

"You always hear that you don't want to go," he said. "But I'm confident in my agent. He's been preparing. I have a lot of faith in him."

The Reds signed catcher Devin Mesoraco to a four-year, $28-million deal last week. Mesoraco, like Frazier, was first-time arb-eligible and coming off a breakout year.

The Reds and Frazier have talked about a multi-year deal. Frazier is likely to be more expensive than Mesoraco.

In baseball, contracts are largely determined by "comparables." The closest player to compare to Frazier is probably Seattle's Kyle Seager. Both are third basemen. Frazier, 28, has hit .258/.336/.451 with 73 home runs and 235 RBI in his career. Seager, 27, has hit .262/.328/.429 with 70 home runs and 264 RBI in his career.

The Mariners gave Seager a seven-year, $100-million contract this offseason.

Aroldis Chapman is the only other arb-eligible Red who remains unsigned. Chapman filed for $8.7 million. The Reds countered at $6.65 million. Chapman is arb-eligible for the second time.





Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said the club continues to talk with Chapman's agent as well. Jocketty said it's more likely that the Reds reach a one-year deal in both cases.

"We've got less than in a week in Frazier's case and little over a week with Chapman," Jocketty said. "Hopefully, we'll get something done."

Former Red Mat Latos lost his arbitration hearing with the Miami Marlins. Latos will get the Marlins' offer of $9.4 million. He filed at $10.4 million.