The Arizona Diamondbacks have just announced a four-year, $40 million extension with third baseman Martin Prado. The deal goes through 2016, buying out his arbitration year this year and tacking three more on top. He made $4.75 million last season. His arbitration demand for this year was $7.05 million with the club countering at around $6 million. So one way to think of this is as a three-year, $33-34 million deal.
Which is not terrible. He’ll certainly be worth it for a couple of years. The deal takes him through his age-32 season, so there is some risk of decline, obviously. And given how gritty a grinder he is, you have to worry about injury.
Prado has hit .295/.345/.435 over the course of seven big league seasons, the last four of which came as a full-timer. He can play multiple positions, most recently serving as the Braves’ left fielder, but he will play third for Arizona.
Prado, along with Randall Delgado and other prospects, came to the Dbacks in the Justin Upton trade. It was said at the time of the trade that they wanted to extend him and now they have.
