The Marlins and third baseman Martin Prado have agreed to a three-year, $40 million contract extension, reports Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald. The biggest takeaway here is that the weak free agency class this upcoming offseason just got even weaker.
Prado, 32, was set to hit free agency after the season and he was setting himself up nicely. Through Monday, Prado is hitting .305/.360/.415 (112 OPS+) with 37 doubles, seven homers, 73 RBI and 68 runs. His 3.6 WAR is the highest for Prado since 2012.
Taking Prado off the market means that the third basemen in free agency will be Justin Turner, Luis Valbuena and Aaron Hill. Ruben Tejada, too, if he counts. And that's it.
It is overall a weak free agency class, as we've noted several times. Here are some of the best options by position (skipping third base since we just covered it):
Catchers
The presence Wilson Ramos and Matt Wieters means that this is one of the better positions in free agency. Jonathan Lucroy has a club option for $5.25 million and there's no way the Rangers let him walk. Alex Avila, Jason Castro and Dioner Navarro are some of the depth options.
First basemen
Edwin Encarnacion is the top shelf option, if the Blue Jays can't agree to an extension with him. Mike Napoli and Brandon Moss are viable starters while Steve Pearce and Adam Lind are platoon options. Mitch Moreland is also available.
Second basemen
Neil Walker is the only definite starter available, and he's coming off season-ending surgery. Chase Utley is out there, but he'll be 38 next year. Past these two, it's the likes of Stephen Drew and Daniel Descalso.
Shortstop
The Royals might not pick up the option on Alcides Escobar ($6.5M), otherwise it's Erick Aybar and Alexei Ramirez. Yikes.
Outfield
Here's another area where it might not be awful.
If Yoenis Cespedes opts out of his deal -- and the answer to that question depends upon who and when you ask -- he's the top prize of the entire free agent class. All-Stars Ian Desmond and Michael Saunders are also out there, as are aging stars Jose Bautista and Carlos Beltran. Matt Holliday might join that group if the Cardinals decline their part of the $17 million mutual option. Jay Bruce has been awful with the Mets down the stretch, but Josh Reddick has gotten better after a bad start with the Dodgers. MLB home run leader Mark Trumbo will hit free agency as well.
Dexter Fowler has a $9 million mutual option with a $5 million buyout. At this point, it seems safe that the Cubs would try to bring him back, but maybe Fowler tests free agency again? Then again, maybe he's comfortable staying put instead of going through a long offseason again.
Does Carlos Gomez have a market left? He's going to be out there.
Some others: Colby Rasmus, Angel Pagan, Cameron Maybin (if the Tigers decline his $9 million club option), Austin Jackson, Rajai Davis
So, yes, there should be several good outfielders out there. That's quite the contrast from ...
Starting pitchers
Brett Anderson, Doug Fister, Bartolo Colon, Jaime Garcia, Rich Hill (he'll be 37 years old), Ivan Nova, CC Sabathia, Edinson Volquez (if the Royals don't pick up the $10 million mutual option), Jered Weaver, R.A. Dickey, Bartolo Colon (he'll be 43) and Andrew Cashner are the top names.
Relievers
Actually, you could find a closer. The money will be spent in outfielders and closers. Kenley Jansen, Mark Melancon, Aroldis Chapman and maybe Wade Davis ($10 million club option) will be available. Taking a step down, there's Santiago Casilla, Sergio Romo, Koji Uehara and Brad Ziegler. A few more: Jonathan Papelbon, Joe Smith, Junichi Tazawa, Luke Hochevar (like seemingly ever other Royals player, there's a club option), Joe Blanton, Joaquin Benoit, Travis Wood and Javier Lopez.
That's pretty weak, no? We've grown accustomed to seeing an offseason spending spree in free agency. That won't be the case this coming offseason. It's bargain shopping time. When good-but-not-great players like Prado signing extensions makes you think like this, that pretty well sums it up.
