MLB Trade Rumors: Red Sox interested in Martin Prado, per report

It’s no secret that the Red Sox will be targeting third basemen around the league as the trade deadline rapidly approaches. Todd Frazier and Mike Moustakas have been the big names that have been rumored seemingly since the season began, but you can expect others to join them in rumors as the deadline gets closer. One new name has hit the rumor mill over the last couple of days, and that is Martin Prado. According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Red Sox have discussed the Marlins’ third baseman recently.

Prado has been a really solid infielder in this league for a long time now, though he hasn’t quite gotten a chance to prove he is still up to that task in 2017. The 33-year-old has missed time with hamstring injuries this season and has only come to the plate 87 times in 2017. When he has been able to play, he hasn’t been very good. He’s hitting just .277/.299/.398. The biggest issue for Prado this season has been his walk rate, which has plummeted to almost three percent. To be fair, though, it’s an awfully small sample size and he hasn’t been swinging at any more pitches out of the zone.

Still, all things considered, it would be surprising to see the Red Sox make a real play for Prado. We all know the plan is for Rafael Devers to take over this position at some point. It probably won’t be this season — although there is a chance at it, no matter what the team says — but as soon as 2018 Devers is expected to be a big part of the team. However, Prado is under contract through 2019 and will be owed $28.5 million in that time. For a team that is pushing the luxury tax and also has a young third baseman they believe can be a future star, it just wouldn’t make much sense. It makes even less sense when you consider he is a contact-oriented player who is in his age-33 season and only figures to start developing a slower bat. I’ve always liked Prado as a player, but he doesn’t make much sense as a potential trade target for the Red Sox this summer.