Arizona Diamondbacks: Reviewing 2014’s Deadline Deals

Jul 13, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Martin Prado (14) throws to first to record an out against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Martin Prado for Peter O’Brien

The first of two deadline day deals by the D’backs involved their old trading friends, the Yankees. Prado came to Arizona before the 2013 season in the trade that sent Justin Upton to the Atlanta Braves. The versatile Prado drove in 82 runs for Arizona in 2013, a career-high. After another slow start at the beginning of 2014, he returned to his more usual numbers and was hitting .270 through 106 games.

For a team going nowhere and with over $20 million dollars left on his contract, the D’backs decided to send Prado to the Yankees who were going all-out in Derek Jeter‘s final season. He showed some pop in New York with seven home runs in 137 plate appearances and hit .316 down the stretch. However, like McCarthy, Prado’s time with the Yankees was brief. On December 19th, he was traded along with pitcher David Phelps to the Miami Marlins in exchange for pitcher Nathan Eovaldi and first baseman Garrett Jones.

O’Brien was considered a prospect with tremendous power but without a real position. He was primarily a catcher but most feel the outfield is his best spot. The right-handed hitting O’Brien has certainly lived up to the power billing with 33 home runs in only 386 at-bats before being dealt. He finished second in the 2015 Triple A Home Run Derby and it seems only a matter of time before his bat finds its way into a Major League lineup.

Next: Gerardo Parra for Anthony Banda and Mitch Haniger