FRAZIER SHIPPED TO SEATTLE BY PADRES

Two minor leaguers are price for player acquired at deadline

The Padres are unclogging their infield and clearing some money off the books.

All-star second baseman Adam Frazier was traded Saturday morning to the Mariners for two prospects, left-hander Ray Kerr and outfielder Corey Rosier. The latter was added to Seattle’s 40-man roster earlier this offseason, a rags-to-riches story as the 6-foot-3 Kerr began his career as an undrafted free agent. The 22year-old Rosier thrived over the summer in his pro debut a low Single-a Modesto.

Meantime, Fernando Tatis Jr.’s return to the infield as the starting shortstop amplified the need to move Frazier, who was projected to make $7.2 million in his third year of arbitration eligibility, according to Mlbtraderumors.com.

The Padres’ opening day payroll is still projected to push past $180 million, as the club seeks to add starting pitching depth and a replacement in left field for the departed Tommy Pham as MLB and the players’ union work to address a collective bargaining agreement that expires Wednesday.

“For us to have some roster flexibility … this was something we felt gave us some options the rest of the offseason,” Padres General Manager A.J. Preller said by phone Saturday afternoon. “We like the players we got back.”

Preller added: “We felt like (Frazier) was the right fit at the time. Ultimately this is about getting some guys back, Tatis coming back to the infield and more looking at the entire roster.”

The 29-year-old Frazier hit .324/.388/.448 en route to representing the Pirates in the All-star Game, only to slump to .267/.327/.335 in 57 games after a July trade to the Padres.

Frazier was especially unproductive in August, hitting .229/.297/.265 as the NL’S second wild-card spot began to slip out of San Diego’s grip. His arrival was espe

Beyond Brilliant won the Grade I Hollywood Derby on Saturday … and the colt’s name also could be used to describe the recent work of jockey Kent Desormeaux.

The Hall of Fame rider has also been, yes, beyond brilliant over the past five racing days at Del Mar, winning eight races including Friday’s Grade II Hollywood Turf Cup (Say the Word) and Saturday’s first of two Grade I stakes of the season-ending Turf Festival. He also won the Cary Grant Stakes last weekend.

Earlier Saturday, Field Pass ($9) won the Grade II Seabiscuit Stakes and the Peter Miller-trained Tezzaray ($8.20) won the Grade III Jimmy Durante Stakes for 2-year-old fillies.

Desormeaux put Beyond Brilliant in the lead shortly after the start of the 11⁄8-mile $400,000 race for 3-year-olds and turned back every challenge, finishing a neck ahead of Santin (Umberto Rispoli) at the wire.

“Beyond Brilliant relaxed today and Kent is riding great right now, isn’t he?,” said trainer John Shirreffs after the son of Twirling Candy won his second race at Del Mar under Desormeaux this year.

“This horse likes to be on the lead or close to the lead and obviously with a big field (14 horses) that is a good place to be,” Shirreffs continued.

“I’m thankful for Kent doing it for us today. He’s riding so well that I’m going to be putting him on more horses.”

The fall meeting has been an inspiring comeback for Desormeaux, who was suspended from the track during the middle of the 2020 summer meeting for an altercation in the residence area away from the track.

“I’ve had a lot of support,” said Desormeaux, who called Saturday’s ride on Beyond Brilliant “easy.”

“I had my hands full in his last start,” Desormeaux said of Beyond Brilliant’s thirdplace finish behind Hollywood Derby rivals Subconscious and Cathkin Peak in the Grade II Twilight Derby at Santa Anita on Oct. 31.

“The team did wonders with this horse over the last month. He was happy out on the racetrack. His mind was right. And he showed he can sprint that last part.”

Beyond Brilliant paid $23.80 to win — capping a day when no favorite won on the nine-race card. Public Sector, the 9-5 choice in the Derby, finished fourth just ahead of second-choice Subconscious.

In the Seabiscuit, Rispoli made a bold and early move with Field Pass on the backstretch, then held off odds-on favorite and slow breaking Sacred Life at the wire to win the 11⁄16-mile race for older horses.

Field Pass, a 4-year-old gelding, reversed the 1-2 finishing order of the Grade III Knickerbocker Stakes at Belmont Park while racing at a sixth different track this year.

“I didn’t want to stop the stride of my horse,” Rispoli said of his move on the backstretch.

“He was running happy and I was happy, too. Then he fought hard late and we got there first.”