The Marlins have agreed in principle to a three-year, $40MM extension with third baseman Martin Prado, Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reports. Assuming the deal goes through to completion, he’ll remain with Miami through 2019. Prado will earn annual salaries of $11.5MM, $13.5MM, and $15MM in sequence over the deal’s three seasons, Jon Heyman of Fan Rag reports (Twitter links), with a $1MM assignment bonus applying in the event of any trades.
While the Miami organization will obviously be glad to have retained a team leader, it’s hard to celebrate given that the team is still reeling from the death of star pitcher Jose Fernandez just days ago. Last night’s game was one of the most heart-wrenching experiences ever seen at a ballpark, with Prado among the Marlins players who took the field in extremely difficult circumstances. (You can find his emotional post-game interview here.)
Prado, 32, has long been respected as a hard-nosed, versatile performer. He joined the Marlins before the 2015 season in a trade that sent Nathan Eovaldi and Garrett Jones to the Yankees and also delivered breakout righty David Phelps to Miami.
Of course, Prado is also quite an accomplished hitter. Though he has never been an abundant source of home runs — even less so now than before — Prado continues to put up steadily above-average overall offensive production. This year, he owns a .305/.360/.415 batting line in 644 plate appearances over 149 games, which is just a shade better than his career mark of .293/.342/.423.
The strong 2016 season came at an opportune time for Prado, who hasn’t been quite as useful with the bat over the last several years as he was earlier in his career with the Braves. He ended up being dealt from Atlanta to the Diamodbacks and then on to the Yankees before moving back to the NL East.
Had he made it onto the open market, Prado figured to receive wide interest. That’s due not only to his sturdy bat and reputation as a leader, but also for the defensive flexibility he possesses. Prado has delivered well-regarded glovework at third for some time now, but also has shown himself plenty capable of playing second, first, the corner outfield, and even shortstop in a pinch.
The major question seemed to be whether the Marlins would issue Prado a $16.7MM qualifying offer. Instead, the sides obviated the need to consider that scenario. The club may have been a bit squeamish at the idea of paying such a large single-season salary to a good but not great player, while Prado himself would have been tempted by such an offer given the alternative of entering the free agent market with draft pick compensation tied to his signing.
This contract seems to serve purposes for both player and team, with the organization locking up the third base position for years to come and the latter limiting his risk while picking up a pretty nice payday. Prado will end up receiving a bit more than second baseman Daniel Murphy got last year from the Nationals in free agency, after he declined a QO. The new contract also dwarfs the $11MM guaranteed to David Freese by the Pirates to keep him from reaching the open market, while falling a fair sight shy of Chase Headley’s relatively recent four-year, $52MM pact.
If there’s a beneficiary here outside of the two parties involved directly, it’s the remainder of the free agent market. In particular, Justin Turner and especially Luis Valbuena now have much stronger market standing, especially since the Marlins might not have made a major signing had Prado left. Perhaps the same applies to Ian Desmond, who could receive interest from some of the same organizations that might have valued Prado for his versatility.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Good for him, good for the Marlins organization
Marlins needed to do this.
The Marlins are a joke of a franchise. They stole a ballpark from the city and ‘competed’ for one lackluster year and traded everyone away. Extending Prado doesn’t make them better. Not having a crook an an owner would be a good start. He should be forced to sell the team.
You are giving them fire because they re-sign the captain on a moment that they really need it?
You are a joke
Don’t even give this douche attention, obviously he knows nothing about baseball or that prado is the captain of this team
No need for name calling. hHe’s been with the Marlins do how long and he’s already the ‘captain’. Doesn’t particularly mean much in baseball anyways, and I doubt this was a reactionary signing that the team needed. As an actual fan of baseball seeing what the Marlins do on a year to year basis is appauling. They clearly have potential as evident by the WS victories, but with an owner like Loria he’s an embarrassment to baseball and I wish the fans would do something about it.
He’s been the captain because of his attitude towards the game and players on the team respect him. Watch a Marlins game and you’ll find that out. And as a Marlins fan loria has been the worst owner in all of sports but fans can’t do anything about it. People make fun of the Marlins for their low attendance but he’s the reason for it. Nobody supports him
I would have agreed with you a year ago. I’m a Cubs MiLB guy, and the Marlins are on the right track. They drafted and developed Chris Paddack in the eighth round in 2015. And traded him to try to improve their playoff chances.
I wanted to rip them for their handling of Bryan Morris, but mysteriously, nobody else wanted a rather young, formerly reliable pitcher, either.
Extending Prado is a step in the right direction.
If their scouting and development teams keep improving (Paddack), they’re heading in the right direction.
Owners of teams with limited depth ought to hire more scouts, draft deeper into the second and third days, and have quality coaches to develop talent. Teams pushing those envelopes need to be applauded for their efforts.
I hope that signing Prado is an attempt to field a competitive franchise, not a ruse. Baseball is as good of a sport as its thirtieth best owner. JL is doing his jpb better, it appears, than a year or three ago.
The White Sox are starting to look up, as well, it appears. If the ChiSox and Marlins keep getting better in their R&D, that would be two fewer teams I need to worry about in the future.
Im sorry not to sound harsh or like this is too soon I cried myself over Jose because of the person he was and the player. But I understand Martin is a leader on this team but this money really needs to go to a pitcher. They need themselves an ace now and with no farm to trade they need money for a pitcher. This team without Jose looks so much worse.
Sorry man but I disagree. There’s not really a good free agent pitcher this year. And prado is the captain of the Marlins. This is something they needed to do
Even with money, there is no “Ace” on the market this year
Hard to replace a true Ace that was only in his first year of arbitration even for $13MM on the upcoming market.
I think Prado needed to be extended both for organization and the fans.
Anytime the term “ace” is capitalized, I wonder if the poster realizes how much commitment (both from the developing-the-player team and the player) goes into a middle-of-the-rotation type.
JF won’t be accurately replaced. If the Marlins asked me how to upgrade, I’d recommend drafting thirty players in the draft that are really good at playing baseball, and want to upgrade their ability. Every single year.
It won’t appease the savages (fans), but it would be the right thing to do. High schools and colleges have guys interested in being good players. Pay them the $100,000 maximum, and let them prove how good they are. Or aren’t.
Not all will require that much, clearly. However, adding about thirty good players, and developing them every season, gives the Marlins (or whoever) more depth at every level, a year at a time.
Also, the Marlins should spend more aggressively overseas.
Does this set the bar for Justin Turner & Dexter Fowler
Depends on the QO status
As a Cubs fan, part of me is concerned that Fowler will accept the QO. It wouldn’t necessarily be the worst thing in the world, but I’d like Almora Jr to be patrolling CF every day in 2017.
Chris Young got 2/13m last season with close to same numbers and plays same positions and both average defense. I can’t see Epstein offering him a QO, sure fire bet to get accepted.
What an odd comment., where do you get “close to the same numbers”?
Chris Young played the majority of his 2015 in the corners, with only 15 games in center field and was a negative defender.
My fear as a cubs fan is Almora -will be the CF
Cubs are 10 games UNDER .500 2015&2016 with Dexter not in the line up.
You Go we go – You Go we go.
“Pay that man his money ” ( rounders Ref)
The only thing I like more about Dexter than Almora is his switch-hitting ability. Almora is an amazing defensive CF, and as one of Theo’s first round draft picks, I have a hunch that he will be an excellent ballplayer for years to come.
Despite all of the tragedy and loss suffered by the unexpected demise of Fernandez, it appears now that the Marlins definitely are doubling down for 2017 and not selling out. Prado might not seem like a big piece to some fans, but he is solid, consistent, durable and a great clubhouse figure.
Without a doubt an excellent move by the Marlins to resign Prado.
To Marlins fans this is bigger than signing any of the free agents this year. He’s the captain and everybody loves him. He’s one of the players that it doesn’t matter if they do good or not. Everybody loves him
As a lifelong Braves fan, I applaud the Marlins for this move, in general and in light of what just happened to Fernandez.
As a Braves fan I hoped for a reunion, but actually like this move even more.
Marlins need somebody to be the leader Prado is one of my favorite players. Good for them
Respect. ^
This might be way to soon but all I can think about is if he started on Sunday he would probably still be alive, but he didn’t so now the other thing that I can’t get mind off of is how in the world could the Marlins possibly replace him? All I can say now is that Cashner is 95% certain to return to the Marlins next season. But I don’t think that is going to be enough.
Cashner is horrible.
He is in Matt Latos territory.
JF’s passing has no bearing on Andrew Cashner. Plus I heard he intends to sign elsewhere because of the Marlins’ no facial hair policy.
And, Braves fans hang their heads a little lower knowing Prado is off the market.
Smart move by the Marlins, Prado and Stanton are now the leaders of that team moving forward. He is a pro’s pro.. The loss of Fernandez will really hurt them moving forward though.
I know it was a long shot since Adonis Garcia is having a pretty good second half, but it sure would have been nice seeing Prado back in a Braves uniform.