New York Yankees, Miami Marlins agree to five player trade
The New York Yankees and Miami Marlins have agreed to a five player trade. The deal will send infielder Martin Prado and right-hander David Phelps to the Marlins with first baseman Garrett Jones and right-handers Nathan Eovaldi and Domingo German heading back to New York, according to Jack Curry of the YES Network.
Having remained relatively quiet this offseason as most of their biggest free agents departed for other teams, the Yankees were seemingly waiting for the right moment to pounce and with this move they likely become a better and younger team.
Eovaldi, 24, is coming off a 2014 season in which he posted a 6-14 record and 4.37 ERA in 33 starts. While the numbers don’t stand out, Eovaldi’s age and power arm have the Yankees excited. Young power arms have long been coveted by the team, with Michael Pineda being the most recent target that they’ve acquired. With his young age there is still room for Eovaldi to grow.
“He’s got a great deal of ability,” said Yankees GM Brian Cashman on a conference all with reporters, including Marc Carig. “I don’t think he’s a finished product.”
Jones, 33, is leaving the Marlins after just one season with the team. In 146 games this past season, Jones batted .246/.309/.411 with 15 HR and 53 RBI. His left-handed bat and the Yankees’ lack of a backup first baseman could make Jones a good backup option with the oft-injured Mark Teixeira in the fold. Jones is owed $5 million in his final year under contract.
New York also receives German, who pitched at Class-A this past season. The 22 year-old began his transition to becoming a starting pitcher this past year. German’s efforts earned him the honor of being the only member of the Marlins organization invited to the Futures Game. The Dominican born right-hander posted a 9-3 record and 2.48 ERA through 25 starts.
For the Marlins, the 31 year-old Prado should provide a ton of versatility for the team as he’s played every position outside of center field, catcher, and pitcher in his career. In 143 games Prado batted .282/.321/.412 with 12 HR and 58 RBI. He hit a robust .316/.336/.541 with the Yankees following a midseason trade. He’s still under contract for two more seasons for a total of $22 million, but Cashman says the team will pay $3 million of that salary each year (per Daniel Barbarisi on Twitter).
Also going to the Marlins in 28-year-old swingman David Phelps. In parts of three seasons with the Yankees, Phelps saw moments of success but ultimately was plagued with inconsistencies and injuries. He’s appeared in 87 games in his career, owning a 15-14 record and 4.21 ERA.
Early on the trade looks to favor New York, as the team is receiving a young arm in Eovaldi with plenty of upside, a power left-handed bat for the bench in Jones, and a young pitcher in exchange for the versatile, but costly Prado and the injury-prone Phelps.