Should the Red Sox acquire Martin Prado?
Should the Red Sox not be able to get their free agent right handed outfield bat that it appears they are so badly wanting, then trading for one may be their only option. Michael Cuddyer has been the center of attention lately with the rumblings that the Philadelphia Phillies are aggressively pursuing the former Minnesota Twins right fielder. The Red Sox are also supposedly interested in acquiring Cuddyer although they may get beat to the punch.
If they do lose out on the Cuddyer there are still other free agent options; Grady Sizemore, Carlos Beltran to name just a couple. But Sizemore is a left handed bat while Beltran is a switch hitter. Throw in a large salary and an increasing age and Beltran may be out of the running.
One name that has been floating around the trade market lately is the Atlanta Braves left fielder, Martin Prado. It’s been made public by ESPN’s Buster Olney that the Braves could be interested in moving Prado this winter with his popularity on the rise.
The 28-year old Venezuelan native is coming off three consecutive seasons in which he’s averaged ove 130 games per year. While last season he only hit .260, he was coming off three straight seasons where he hit over .300, including back-to-back .307 campaigns in 2009 and 2010. He’s averaged 13 home runs and 57 RBI over those the past three years to go with a three year average OBP of .340 and a SLG of .434. His numbers dropped last season, but the scouting on Prado is that he is a younger version of Cuddyer, but possibly a better hitter.
But here’s where the Red Sox problems begin. Prado is a left fielder, who has only ever played two innings in right field in his six-year career. With Carl Crawford firmly entrenched in left field, Prado would have to move to right field, barring he could and would want to make the switch. If he has no desire to patrol right or can’t make the adjustment then his services are about as useful as what J.D. Drew‘s have been for the past two years.
For argument sake and in all reality, Prado could likely play right field. Who would the Red Sox be willing to give up for him in return? Atlanta isn’t going to let him walk for next to nothing. He’s only 28 and was making just over $3 million last season and is arbritration eligible for the 2012 year. With a tremendous amount of potential, the Braves would want someone with high value in return for Prado. Likely a prospect in the range of Will Middlebrooks or Ryan Lavarnway to be packaged with a Josh Reddick or Ryan Kalish. Throw in some A or AA prospects and then the Braves might start considering it.
Of course this is just from a Red Sox standpoint. Prado could end up being a very popular trade piece and the Braves could likely withstand to acquire more compensation than what the Sox would be willing to give up.
While Prado could fit nicely into the Sox lineup, I don’t see this deal happening. The asking price is likely going to be too high and the Red Sox need pitching, pitching and more pitching.
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