Martin Prado and the One Year Contract

by GumpBrave on Jan 26, 2012 10:28 PM EST

After a career worst season in 2011, Martin Prado was signed to a one year contract for $4.75 million. I think it's a good value for a year's worth of Prado. But is that the right move for the Braves? I think that Martin Prado was prime for an extension. Nothing too major, maybe 3 years at 14 million with some incentives (performance/award based-perhaps if he gets All-Star, contends for the batting title etc , maybe worth 4 million over the course of the contract.)

Martin Prado is a team-player with tons of versatility. Prado also has a strong work ethic. He was hurt in 2011 and appeared frustrated by what he must have considered was sub-par performance. Definitely not his year. I personally think that he will be supremely motivated to show what a healthy Prado can provide. It's a great value to get such a motivated player for 4.75 million dollars, but if you believe that you will get great value then you are assuming that Prado is a generally good player when healthy. And that is a valid assumption to make, because Prado is a very talented ballplayer who gives the team identity (think 2010, that team will forever be associated with Martin Prado in my mind for some reason) and has amazing potential to provide value.

Prado, at his true talent level- and he is 28 mind you- is a good starter. He's great if he is at 2nd, and good at LF and 3rd. But let's say he doesn't get there. At the worst case scenario, Prado is able to cover the OF and the IF as what we fondly know as the super-utility man. Considering that Jack Wilson was signed for 1 million with an addition 500k in incentives, imagine how Prado's value would be gauged as the super-utility he can be. That value alone is worth close to the $4.75 million he is getting paid this year if you consider that he can cover the spots of two bench players and provides line-up flexibility. But I think it is far more realistic that he stays a strong starter over the next 3-4 years than that he is relegated to the bench.

Martin Prado is a valuable commodity to a baseball team despite coming off a career bad year. His versatility, talent and intangibles are especially valuable for a team like the Braves, who we all know will likely remain mid-market for the foreseeable future. I think the time was ripe to get a great player and a long-term solution (in whatever form it might present itself) at a price right for the Braves. Thoughts?

This FanPost does not express the views or opinions of Talking Chop.

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Hopefully they will next year, when some more $$$ is available

I’m sure they will, bc they (should) want him at 3rd.

"It looks like The Hound of the Baskervilles out there." - Steve Stone
"...I'm reminded of Wuthering Heights." - Harry Caray
~
Gaby Sanchez - 1, Nyjer Morgan - 0

by Chief Noc-A-Homa on Jan 27, 2012 8:17 AM EST reply actions

But you could have locked him up now, at a similar or lower rate this year

with the future money due when it comes available next year and beyond anyway.

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by Mr. Sanchez on Jan 27, 2012 11:23 AM EST up reply actions

Well, we spend money like Scrooge McDuck (........sparingly)

And they probably want to get a definitive idea that Chipper is or isn’t going to retire after 2012.

But I agree with you, and the OP. In a perfect world, he would be locked up for the next couple years.

"It looks like The Hound of the Baskervilles out there." - Steve Stone
"...I'm reminded of Wuthering Heights." - Harry Caray
~
Gaby Sanchez - 1, Nyjer Morgan - 0

by Chief Noc-A-Homa on Jan 27, 2012 12:55 PM EST up reply actions

i doubt we could have locked him up now

He and his agent, as well as the braves front office, all know he is going to have a better year next year. And from the braves point of view, they have Terdoslavich, Simmons and Pastornicky to figure out, Money coming in, and this guy Sutton that could be the next super utility (‘08 Prado, but can play short). It is in everyone’s interest to wait to work a contract next year. I doubt anyone wanted to sign a multi-year deal at his current value, Prado included.

by willlinn on Jan 27, 2012 7:55 PM EST up reply actions

Surely paying a little bit more this year to save maybe 5-10 million down the line would be okay even with our small budget.

Sgt.: Pointed stick? Oh, oh, oh. We want to learn how to defend ourselves against pointed sticks, do we? Getting all high and mighty, eh? Fresh fruit not good enough for you eh? Well I'll tell you something my lad. When you're walking home tonight and some great homicidal maniac comes after you with a bunch of loganberries, don't come crying to me! Now, the passion fruit.

by GumpBrave on Jan 27, 2012 2:12 PM EST up reply actions

based on arbitration firgures

he would have been worth more than 3/14. since he got 4.75 in his 2nd arb year, assuming he has a at least solid year (which you obviously expect) he would be due about 7-8 in his arb 3 year and then the 3rd would be free agency. I would think something like a proposed 3 year 20 mil dollar deal with, say a $8 mil team or vesting option for a 4th year, would be right. (5, 7, 8 year breakout)

by Rodrda01 on Jan 27, 2012 12:03 PM EST reply actions

I’d go for 3/18-20 too without a problem, I was just trying to illustrate the type of savings the Braves could have gotten on such value.

by GumpBrave on Jan 27, 2012 2:14 PM EST up reply actions

Martin Prado is the definition of a value, and we had a chance to

Did you just wreck your Pontiac Trans AM into a pole and then vomit on the trunk?

My dad taught me how to make meat for sloppy joes and my mom let me turn over hot dogs on the grill.

by ChopMaster on Jun 25, 2011 7:25 PM CDT

by justincredubil02 on Jan 27, 2012 2:57 PM EST reply actions

Bret Easton Ellis

I figured it was like Bret Easton Ellis novella and just abruptly stopped for dramatic effect

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Jan 27, 2012 3:05 PM EST up reply actions

Ha. Dunno how that bit of a sentence dangled at the end. It has been fixed for your viewing pleasure.

by GumpBrave on Jan 27, 2012 3:15 PM EST up reply actions

I liked it better before.

My dad taught me how to make meat for sloppy joes and my mom let me turn over hot dogs on the grill.

by ChopMaster on Jun 25, 2011 7:25 PM CDT

by justincredubil02 on Jan 27, 2012 4:49 PM EST up reply actions

I think he would have

if he had had another .300/.350/.450 season in 2011 but it’s too much of a risk to guarantee him money for several years. He is my favorite Brave and I hope he bounces back next year so we can lock him down long term.

by roberty on Jan 28, 2012 11:02 PM EST reply actions

There are good reasons to go year to year with Prado.

As much as I like Prado as a player, our need for him can vary depending on future developments such as the development of our young 3B types (Salcedo in particular), how long Chipper plays before retiring, and well, whether we trade him. It is nice to lock in value in a contract, but sometimes when things are unsettled, it is better to take it year by year, especially when future expenses are not certain either: depending on Heyward’s performance this year, he could get expensive very quickly; same with Hanson, etc. Basically, we don’t know whether in two years Prado will be a necessity or a luxury that we either cannot or should not afford. And if he has a down season before the year we don’t need him anymore and have him signed long term, we’d have to eat some money to move him, which is a scenario we don’t want to happen. I am happy going year to year with Prado—-and I was one of the people who did not like the idea of us trading him for a “true left fielder.” While I don’t know our need for him in the future; I know our need for him now.

by cavebird on Jan 30, 2012 9:24 AM EST reply actions

There are a lot of reasons to keep Prado for a long deal especially with the way the game has been shifting. Power numbers are significantly down, which significantly drives a gu like Prado’s value up. If you can find an infielder/outfielder with decent speed who can consistently hit 300+ slug 450+ OBP around 350+ like he did in ‘09 and ’10 your obviously going to want to really hold on to him. Even if he can put up numbers relatively close to that he is worth keeping for a long time. In an injury plagued season last season his OBP was still 300+. I definitely think he will rebound solely because of his consistency in his first couple leagues in the bigs. I also think him being able to play third is an invaluable asset down the road as Chipper is finishing his career. When he does retire I think the play is to try out Salcedo or one of our shortstops and retain the ability to move Prado to third if they flop and then find a new outfielder. What it comes down to is Prado is gives us a lot of options in the future, provides us with a extremely consistent bat at the top of the lineup, and plays extremely hard. I’d say definitely worth a 4 or 5 year deal. I think he’s going to cost us next year.

by bobbycox6 on Jan 30, 2012 12:58 PM EST reply actions