The Yankees acquired infielder Martin Prado from the Diamondbacks, tweets Jack Curry of the YES Network. The D’Backs will receive catching prospect Peter O’Brien and a player to be named later or cash considerations and are not contributing cash to the deal, tweets MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert. The Yankees have now officially announced the deal.
Prado, 30, is hitting .270/.317/.370 in 436 plate appearances for Arizona this year while playing mostly third base. He was a major piece of the January 2013 trade that brought Justin Upton to the Braves. Shortly after the acquisition, Prado signed a four-year, $40MM extension with the D’Backs. He has about $3.6MM remaining this year, and $11MM in each of the 2015 and ’16 seasons.
Minutes before this trade, the Yankees acquired Stephen Drew from the Red Sox for Kelly Johnson. On July 22nd, the Yankees added third baseman Chase Headley. Drew will play second base, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, while it’s not exactly clear how Prado will be employed.
O’Brien, 24, is hitting .267/.312/.593 with 33 home runs between High-A and Double-A in 413 plate appearances. Baseball America ranked him 23rd among Yankees prospects prior to the season, praising his power but questioning his defense.
Kyle 16
How? Thought deadline ended?
baseballbeisbol
It needs to be done by the deadline. Trades often aren’t reported until after.
Mo Vaughn
They have to be sent into the Commish’s office by 4, but can be announced anytime after.
JacobyWanKenobi
There’s that right field power bat they’ve needed.
asovermann
Just going to call sarcasm before someone clueless comes along.
Gregory Eckes
There is your right handed outfielder
bighiggy
How many infielders do the yanks need? They got headley drew and prado to go with jeter ryan tex and whoever else. Lot of players.
Gregory Eckes
Prado can play outfield
Raylan Givens' Stetson
And Drew can sweep the dugout when everybody else is on the field.
Cill Bosby
LOL
Justin 17
HAHAHAHA!
houmerlin
That is hilarious!
Raylan Givens' Stetson
And Drew can sweep the dugout when everybody else is on the field.
JacobyWanKenobi
Yankees sign FA mad scientist Victor Frankenstein to patch them all together. You’ll see!
Alex 18
What! Now that was unexpected.
MB923
I have to assume Roberts or Ryan is gone. Though they also could send down Wheeler. Still need a RFer.
Since_77
They could play Prado in right. They had Wheeler out there last weekend.
Triteon
…for Stephen Drew? That would be sweet.
YankeeFan™
i Deff love this move
Frittoman626
Drew and Prado huh, well It’s not like we were gonna compete anyways without Tanaka, Pineda ,and the others…
TySpace
“NEVER CAN HAVE TOO MANY UTILITY INFIELDERS!” -Brian Cashman, probably.
Joe Morales
Uh, Headley, Jeter, and Tex have 3/4 of the infield positions. Now Prado and Drew? Where do they expect these Punch-and-Judy hitters to play? Too bad that Byrd trade was not done.
YankeeFan™
could it be Ryan for Prado ?
Since_77
I like this move. Prado is a good player, a definite upgrade.
nycsportzfan
I like it as well. Prado has always been a good hitter. He’s gonna really lengthen the lineup which Headley was starting to do.. Ryan,Roberts,and Wheeler are guys who might be gone now(at least one or 2 of em)
sourbob
Prado makes a TON of sense for the Yankees. He’s their new RF for the time being and he can take over at 2B or 3B in 2015.
هذا الرجل رهيبة الكبير خليل
Either Brian Roberts or Ryan will be gone. Maybe even both
JacobyWanKenobi
I’m hearing it’s O’brien for Prado. My heart is broken. Goodbye.
Frittoman626
O’brien isn’t anything special. A power bat that makes no contact, no plate discipline, and no sure position. Not a huge loss.
JacobyWanKenobi
I’m hearing it’s O’brien for Prado. My heart is broken. Goodbye.
StantonLikeMyDaddy
This trade deadline blows last year’s out of the water.
BitLocker
Small needed upgrades in defense. Let’s hope their offense gets a boost in NYS.
Since_77
Best trade the Yankees can make at this point is to trade the 2014 Beltran & Brian Mc Cann for the players they really are on the back of their baseball cards. They have been terrible.
Sean 12
Damnit! Why couldn’t you guys just be satisfied with Stephen Drew?? lol Prado made so much sense for the Jays.. oh well
coreif
And they gave up O’Brien. I’m dissapointed.
Spencer James
O’Brien and Jeter are headed to Arizona.
JacobyWanKenobi
So the Yankees gave up another guy now and D’Backs took 0 monies? Good stuff.
DirtyJay 3
How did AA not top this!!!!????
Tanthalas
This probably comes down to the payroll issues. The Yankees covering his salary was probably the key to the deal. AA probably needed Arizona to cover some of it, and Arizona just wanted to be free of it, even if it meant getting a lesser package of players. That or AA wasn’t even interested after getting Valencia. By most accounts he was only looking for pitchers at this point.
Rally Weimaraner
Did the Yankees forget they already traded for Headley and Drew or has Jeter already retired?
Frittoman626
Prado most likely plays RF.
Rally Weimaraner
NYY traded for Byrd already today
Tvators
Prado RF
Rally Weimaraner
Byrd??? did you forget they traded for him too
AJSimon122
It was a fake account that said Byrd was acquired by the Yankees. It’s not true.
Rally Weimaraner
Woops my bad forgot that was the fake Sherman… too many trades for my lil brain!
ratboy
And of course he can’t actually catch, why am I even surprised?
Sypherman
Yankees now should have Jeter DH, Headley at 3B, Drew at SS, and Prado at 2B.
Rally Weimaraner
Jeter will not allow it!
max l
That would work, except Beltran can’t throw with his elbow injury, so as long as he plays (and he will) he’s the permanent DH.
Yankees420
I’ve heard this about Beltran, though I haven’t looked into his specific injury. Was wondering how he is able to swing a bat decently (if you call his 95 wRC+ decent) yet unable to throw a baseball? Earnest question – just too glued to MLBTR to research his injury.
First Bleed
What about A-Rod next year!?!!! 3B will be a logjam!
Rally Weimaraner
Drew, Headley and Jeter are all FA at the end of the season
Frittoman626
Headley and Drew are rentals, and A-Rod is most likely a DH.
هذا الرجل رهيبة الكبير خليل
I think Headley will be back, Beltran will be back in RF. So A-Rod will be the mostly full time DH
JJ 3
I think A-rod will never play another game for the yankees
First Bleed
Sorry if the punctuation didn’t imply my sarcasm.
Frittoman626
If I were the Yankees I’d have
RF: Beltran
DH: Jeter
2B: Prado
SS: Drew
But obviously Jeter won’t let that happen.
Collateral96
If Beltran was able to throw it might be possible but at this point he’s unable to even get the ball into the infield which is why he’s DHing
mauryfeldman
Good trade for the Yankees. O’Brien was all hype, as all he can do is hit home runs…which is nice, but when a player makes such little contact, it’s hard to feel confident that he will handle the more sophisticated pitching of higher levels.
O’Brien has been a catcher, but is very defensively limited; he’ll probably be at 1B in the majors.
Tvators
For sure, prado great addition, this seems like a salary dump, O’Brien I’ve dimensional DH, with no plate discipline and huge k holes, prob never sees the majors
mauryfeldman
Good trade for the Yankees. O’Brien was all hype, as all he can do is hit home runs…which is nice, but when a player makes such little contact, it’s hard to feel confident that he will handle the more sophisticated pitching of higher levels.
O’Brien has been a catcher, but is very defensively limited; he’ll probably be at 1B in the majors.
max l
That’s what, like 100 infielders they have now for 4 spots??
JJ 3
I like this trade but im still not sure about the drew trade.
Since_77
Can’t hurt, Kelly Johnson wasn’t doing much with the bat and the infield defense was bad.
JJ 3
Agree. and now NYY DFA Brian Roberts
JacobyWanKenobi
Brian Roberts DFA’d
هذا الرجل رهيبة الكبير خليل
Ichiro is soon to follow
JacobyWanKenobi
TBH I like Ichiro off the bench, Roberts gone for Drew’s spot, Prado gets KJ’s on the 40 and zoilo probably gets sent down. My guess. I like Zoilo though.
Pei Kang
surprised no one is bad mouthing Towers.
Rally Weimaraner
Honestly he did well to pass off that contract.
Pei Kang
I meant the J-U trade overall…never mind!
Mikenmn
odd trade. unless they are looking for more opportunities to flip. drew will be gone next year, as will headley, but prado they keep. he plays third, arod dh, and they find middle infielders in the offseason
bigkingk 2
Well, if AA couldn’t top this, it’s clear the jays don’t have two nickels to rub together. Two Canadian nickels, even!
Tvators
Are canadian nickels are worth 5 million dollars each?
Rally Weimaraner
Best no trade protection ever = playing for the Phillies
JJ 3
haha agree
Eric Murray
Yanks get hosed if O’Brien keeps hitting 30+ HR a year. Miguel Montero will find himself out of a job real fast.
ratboy
You mean Mark Trumbo?
Eric Murray
How would trumbo be out of a job when O’Brien is a C/1B prospect?
ratboy
Only seems natural they replace a power-only bat lacking a glove with another in LF.
Eric Murray
His defense hasn’t been terrible at either C or 1B. Not great, will never win a good glove, don’t think he will kill you that Much behind the plate
ratboy
Looks like he’s already being moved off of catcher, that’s a pretty bad sign at AA. Even Jesus Montero lasted longer.
Federal League
If New York felt good about O’Brien’s potential to stick behind the plate, I’m not sure he gets moved.
Eric Murray
Ever heard of Gary Sanchez? Only really need 1 catcher and cervelli is proving he can at least be a capable starter if needed. I, like the Yankees, feel better about Sanchez over O’Brien. Doesn’t mean the Yankees weren’t convinced he would stick behind the plate.
Federal League
I don’t really agree with any of that.
Eric Murray
Good for you lol. Doesn’t mean I’m wrong. Sanchez is,more of a sure thing defensively and walks more than O’Brien. Cervelli is at worst a competent backup and they have a guy named Brian McCann? 4 catchers is,excessive so O’Brien was expendable. Doesn’t mean the Yankees weren’t convinced about him behind the plate. Just had better options.
Federal League
I’m not sure what you’re arguing. If O’Brien was more of a sure thing defensively than Sanchez, or Murphy, he probably wouldn’t have been traded for a guy like Martin Prado.
Which was my original point.
Eric Murray
No you said his potential to stick behind the plate. I’m saying he doesn’t have to be moved they just had better options. You don’t sign McCann long term and keep like 4 other catchers in the system with potential when you clearly nRed help elsewhere. It’s not just because they felt he wouldn’t stick behind the plate. They don’t need him. They need a decent bat with versatility and that’s what they gave up. I’m sure the Dbacks asked for better and that’s what they got. They deal prospects for trash all the time. And my original point was if this kid keeps hitting 30 + HR a year this is an awful trade
Federal League
I don’t see what McCann’s contract has to do with anyone in the minor league system.
O’Brien has played more games at both DH and 1B than he has at catcher, so I think it’s pretty clear the Yankees didn’t really see a long-term future behind the plate. If they did see a long-term future behind the plate, then the team would not have had better options.
Eric Murray
They could use a 1B/DH more than a catcher but they traded him anyways lol
Federal League
Yes, that I agree with. Not sure how safe a bet it is to count on Beltran and Teixiera remaining positive value players over the rest of their contracts.
Scott Berlin
Plus there’s still JR Murphy who is ML ready and has proven it.
Jeff Snedden
Very underrated pickup for the Yankees. Prado is a nice player who lengthens the Yankees lineup nicely. I don’t know much about O’Brien other than he has a nice power bat.
JoeCB91
The Upton trade looks EVEN WORSE for the Dbacks now.
JoeCB91
The Upton trade looks EVEN WORSE for the Dbacks now.
Scott Brewer
nice deal yanks
Jman1213
My guess is they put Prado in right for now and move him to second next year. I like this trade. O’Brien sounds like another Shelly Duncan, power and that’s about it.
driftcat28
How about Prado at second, refsnyder in rf and drew backing up
TimotheusATL
Prado has LF experience. Prado to LF, Gardner to RF, Ichiro to bench.
Federal League
Prado isn’t playing LF in Yankee Stadium over Gardner.
TimotheusATL
There’s no other logical place to put him.
Federal League
If he has the arm to play 3B and fill in at SS, he can play RF.
Jman1213
Agreed. Gardner doesn’t have the arm for RF.
driftcat28
A little disappointed we parted with O’Brien
Federal League
I agree. The high-strikeout, low-walk profile isn’t the safest bet, especially with so many defensive questions, but the power potential is so serious that it would have been nice to let him sink or swim with the big club.
Erick Begun
I can’t remember who becomes a free agent after this season, Lester or Lacky. But the buzz is whoever it is will sign with the Yankees.
The Giants proved it in 2010 and 2012, that you don’t need an all star team to win the World Series. They had very good pitching, no hitting, no name players.
It just depends who’s hot at the time.
InvalidUserID 2
So the Yankees gave up a non-top prospect for a guy under team control for the next two years at a position (infield) where they’ve gotten poor production? It’s basically taking over Prado’s contract?
BadBJay
wow, Prado for O’Brien? How did the D’backs pull that off??? Makes no sense if you’re in the Yankee camp.
InvalidUserID 2
IF/OF flexibility for a non-top prospect seems like a win to me. They’re on the hook for the contract but they’ve got the $$$.
CashinChex
Jeter’s replacement.
Karl Larson
I like Prado’s versatility. That will address the Yankees depth issues, and he’s a more consistent hitter than Kelly Johnson was