The New York Yankees have made another big trade this month and sent an infielder and a pitcher to the Miami Marlins, who have been one of the most active teams this offseason. The Marlins will give up an infielder and two pitchers.
According to Jack Curry of the YES Network, the Yankees have traded infielder Martin Prado and pitcher David Phelps to the Marlins for starter Nathan Eovaldi and first baseman Garrett Jones. Joel Sherman of the New York Post also adds the Yankees will receive prospect pitcher Domingo German from Miami in the deal. Curry notes both Jose Pirela and Rob Refsnyder will now compete for the second baseman job with Prado heading to Miami.
Prado, who is owed $22 million over the next two seasons, will now likely play third base in Miami since the Marlins recently acquired second baseman Dee Gordon from the Los Angeles Dodgers. This means current third baseman Casey McGehee could be traded before the 2015 season begins. The Marlins have revamped their infield with Gordon, Prado and Michael Morse, who they signed earlier in the week to play first base for them.
Miami also gets David Phelps in the deal. The 28-year-old has a 15-14 record and a 4.21 ERA in 87 games (40 starts) in three seasons with the Yankees. It's quite possible the Marlins use him in the bullpen since their depth chart lists eight starters in the rotation.
As for the Yankees, they get the 24-year-old Eovaldi who owns a 15-35 record with a 4.07 ERA and 1.38 WHIP in 83 games (79 starts) with the Marlins and Los Angeles Dodgers. The right-hander tossed 199 2/3 innings in 2014, which is something the Yankees likely took into account because their ailing starting rotation consists of the questionably healthy CC Sabathia, Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda and Ivan Nova. While Eovaldi has potential, he gave up 223 hits this past season and owns a weak 2.14/1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He's under club control through the 2017 season.
Jones will also join the Yankees after just one season with the Marlins. Once Miami acquired Morse earlier this week it was obvious Jones was on his way out of town, and he'll inherit a similar situation in New York while he likely serves as the backup to Mark Teixeira. However, based on Tex's recent injury history, Jones may have a decent shot to play. The Yankees might be banking on that because they'll be paying Jones $5 million next season. He has a career stat line of .253/.314/.450 with 117 home runs and 383 RBIs in seven MLB seasons.
The 22-year-old Domingo German will also join the Yankees' farm system. In 77 minor league games (44 starts), German owns a 20-10 record with a 2.33 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. At Class-A Greensboro this past season he was 9-3 with a 2.48 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 25 starts.
UPDATE: The Yankees will send $6 million to the Marlins to offset Prado's contract, according to Juan C. Rodriguez of the Miami Sun-Sentinel.
