Marlins give Martin Prado a 3-year contract extension

After one of the most emotional nights in baseball annals, Miami locks up Matrin Prado, their steady third baseman, through 2019.

The potential free agent market this winter got a little bit shorter after the Miami Marlins signed third baseman Martin Parado to a three-year contract extension that is worth an estimated $40 million, the Miami Herald reports.

Prado came to the Marlins with pitcher David Phelps and cash for Domingo German, Nathan Eovaldi and Garrett Jones on December 19, 2014 and has been a steady force since. In 149 games this year he has .305/.360/.415 splits with seven homers and 73 RBI, the second most of his career, to go with solid defense. Since joining the team he has a .297/.350/.405 slashline.

An 11-year veteran who has played for the Braves, who signed him as a free agent in 2001, and Diamondbacks along with the Yankees and Marlins, Prado was eligible for free agency after the season and would have drawn interest from a number of teams and could have cashed in with a larger deal that he got with Miami. He was at the end of a 4-year, $40 million deal and was making $11M this season with $3M paid by the Yankees.

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The timing of the extension means the team acted quickly to lock up one of the more popular players on the roster in hopes his presence can help other players heal over the loss of star pitcher Jose Fernandez. His role has increased this season and had become a leader in the clubhouse.

It was an emotional night at Marlins Park Monday night and Prado, along with Giancarlo Stanton, will provide the type of leadership needed to move forward. Prado, a Venezuela native, could be the bridge for the Latin players the rest of the season and into 2017.

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