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A concern was raised in another thread about making sure Martin Prado got locked up by the Braves.  I think we'd all hope he can get signed to an extension (and that's certainly the Braves' way of doing things when it comes to their core players), but we do fortunately have his rights in arbitration for the next three years in case one can't be worked out.  But for now, we're going into his first year of arbitration, and after the season he's had as an everyday starter for the first time, it will be interesting to see how much he gets paid.  Below the jump, we'll take a look at what some other notable middle infielders got paid in their first year of arbitration.

The player's year of arbitration is noted, and players are listed within each category in order of their total possible contract payment

Signed to extension before arbitration numbers were exchanged:

• Mark Ellis (06)-signed extension to 2/$6 mil+club option@$5 mil w/$250K buyout
• Chone Figgins (06-Super Two)-signed to extension for 3/$10.5 mil
• Alex Gonzalez (04, former Marlins/current Blue Jays one)-signed extension for 2/$6.2 mil
• Julio Lugo (03)-signed to $1.575 mil w/$1.75 mil club option

Signed to extension after arbitration numbers were exchanged:

• Robinson Cano (08)-signed extension for 4/$30 mil+two club options@$14, then $15 mil w/$2 mil buyouts ($4.55 vs. $3.2 mil were arbitration submissions)
  
• Brandon Phillips (08)-signed extension for 4/$27 mil+club option@$12 mil w/$1 mil buyout, $1 mil signing bonus, and $5 mil in incentives ($4.2 vs. $2.7 were arbitration submissions)
• Bill Hall (07)-signed extension for 4/$24 mil+club option@$9.25 mil w/$500K buyout, $500K signing bonus ($4.125 vs. $3 mil were arbitration submissions)
• Edgar Renteria (00)-signed extension for 4/$20 mil+2 club options@$6.5 mil w/$750K buyout, $2.3 mil in incentives ($3.8 mil vs. $2.7 mil were arbitration submissions)
• Nick Punto (07)-signed extension for 2/$4.2 mil ($2.1 mil vs. $1.6 mil were arbitration submissions)
  

Signed one-year deal before arbitration numbers were exchanged:

• Alfonso Soriano (04)-signed to $5.4 mil
• Jimmy Rollins (05)-signed to 3.85 mil w/$175K in incentives
• Stephen Drew (10)-signed to $3.4 mil
• Ty Wigginton (07)-signed for $2.7 mil
• Rafael Furcal (03)-signed for $2.3 mil
• Orlando Hudson (06)-signed for $2.3mil
  
• Luis Castillo (01)-signed for $2.2 mil
• Jason Bartlett (09)-signed to $1.981 mil w/$275K in incentives
• Jose Bautista (08)-signed to $1.8 mil w/$100K in incentives
• Howie Kendrick (10)-signed to $1.75 mil
• Ronnie Belliard (02)-signed to $1.65 mil
• Clint Barmes (09)-signed to $1.625 mil

Signed to one-year deal after arbitration figures were exchanged, but before arbitration:

• Brian Roberts (06)-signed to $3.075 million after offering $3.6 mil to Orioles' $2.4 mil
• Kelly Johnson (09)-signed to $2.825 mil w/$75K in incentives after offering $3.3 mil vs. Braves' $2.35 mil
• J.J. Hardy (08)-signed to $2.65 mil after offering $3.05 mil to Rays' $2.4 mil
• Rickie Weeks (09)-signed to $2.45 mil after offering $2.8 mil to Brewers' $2 mil
• Erick Aybar (10)-signed to $2.05 mil after offering $2.75 mil to Angels' $1.8 mil
• Maicer Izturis (09)-signed to $1.6 mil w/100K in incentives after offering $1.885 to Angels' $1.4 mil
• Jerry Hairston Jr. (03-Super Two)-signed for $1.55 mil after offering $1.8 mil to Orioles' $1.15 mil
• Carlos Guillen (02)-signed for $1.4 million after offering $1.875 to Tigers' $1.2 mil

Signed to one-year deal after arbitration hearing:

Dan Uggla (09)-won arbitration@5.35 mil after Marlins offered $4.4 mil

Derek Jeter (99)-won arbitration for $5 mil after Yankees offered $3.2 mil

Ryan Theriot (10)-lost arbitration for $2.6 mil after offering $3.4 mil

Orlando Cabrera (02)-lost arbitration for $2.4 mil after offering $3.1 mil

David Eckstein (04)-won arbitration for $2.15 mil after Angels offered $1.6 mil

Jack Wilson (04)-won arbitration for $1.85 mil after Pirates offered $1.4 mil

As for the other guys you're probably thinking of (Hanley Ramirez, Ian Kinsler, Michael Young, Jose Reyes, Jhonny Peralta, Troy Tulowitzki) never made it to arbitration before signing extensions.

So, where do we think Prado will end up?  Very few of the guys who signed extensions did so on a short-term or cheap basis, and most of the guys who exchanged figures either got closer to their mark or won the hearing, so it won't be smart to try and low-ball Martin, first year of arbitration eligibility or not.