In a somewhat surprising move today the Yankees have traded utility man Martin Prado and David Phelps to the Miami Marlins for starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi and first base/outfielder Garrett Jones as first reported by YES Network's Jack Curry. The complete five player deal also includes Marlins pitching prospect Domingo German. The Yankees will send an undisclosed amount of cash to Miami, but reports say the Yankees will pay a good portion of Prado's 2015 salary to complete this deal. Prado is scheduled to make about $11 million over each of the next two years. At the start of the week, GM Brian Cashman expected Phelps to compete for a spot in the rotation, but now that spot will be filled by Eovaldi.
Garrett Jones. 33 will come in as the part-time first baseman, DH, and probably play a little right field if needed. He has some power numbers to back it. he's hit at least 15 homers in each of his last six seasons. He signed a back loaded two-year $7.5 million deal last off-season with Miami. Jones will also put pressure on Alex Rodriguez to perform this spring, seeing how the Yankees' bench is on the weak side right now. That can all be sorted out when the time comes. Final piece of the puzzle is the young pitching prospect Domingo German, who has thrown very well in his young single-A ball career. It seems this is possibly the player that the Yankees coveted the most in this deal, but the 22-year-old is still a ways off from seeing any big league action.
This deal also signifies that the Yankees are ready and willing to have Rob Refsnyder, Jose Pirela and Nick Noonan compete for the second base job, odds on favorite is probably Ref, but there is always a chance the Yankees look to bring in veteran to challenge the kids this spring. Prado on the other hand will be missed. In his short time in the Bronx he quickly became a fan favorite, but the Chase Headley signing ultimately gave them the flexibility to trade him for much-needed pitching. If the Yankees are trying to get younger and spend less on big free agent contracts, seems like they're off to a good start.
