NEW YORK -- The New York Yankees traded their starting second baseman Martin Prado to the Miami Marlins for starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi as part of a five-player deal, the teams announced Friday.
The trade is Prado and pitcher David Phelps going to the Marlins in exchange for the 24-year-old Eovaldi, first baseman/outfielder Garrett Jones and minor league pitching prospect Domingo German.
With the trade, the Yankees appear as if they will let prospects Rob Refsnyder and Jose Pirela fight it out to be the team's second baseman. Scouts believe in both of their bats, but there are questions about their gloves. The Yanks have also picked up Cole Figueroa and Nick Noonan as possibilities this winter.
With the Marlins in 2014, Eovaldi threw nearly 200 innings, finishing 6-14 with a 4.37 ERA. His 223 hits allowed were the most in the National League. His fastball has been clocked in the upper 90s.
He will slot into the Yankees rotation along with Masahiro Tanaka, CC Sabathia, Michael Pineda, Chris Capuano and Ivan Nova.
The group enters with questions regarding Tanaka's and Nova's elbows, as well as Sabathia's knee. Coming off of Tommy John surgery, Nova will not be available until late May. The Yankees may need Eovaldi to approach 200 innings again.
In Prado, the Marlins receive a versatile player who can either play second or third on the field.
Prado, 31, played very well for the Yankees, hitting .316 with seven homers in 37 games. His season ended early because of an appendectomy. He has said there is no lingering issue.
Phelps will provide the Marlins with either a starter or a reliever. In his three-year career, Phelps, 28, is 15-14 with a 4.21 ERA.
The arrival of Jones to the Yankees could further diminish the role of Alex Rodriguez. Jones plays first and the outfield.
The Yankees have already displaced A-Rod from starting at third with Chase Headley, but had talked about Rodriguez possibly backing up at third and first. With Jones on board, it seems doubtful Rodriguez will need to learn first base in the spring. Having a backup first baseman could help New York, as the Yankees lacked a true backup this past season, which hurt them when Mark Teixeira was hurt on multiple occasions.
Jones also could challenge Rodriguez for at-bats as designated hitter.