NEW YORK — The Yankees acquired pitcher Nathan Eovaldi, outfielder Garrett Jones and minor league pitcher Domingo German from the Miami Marlins on Friday for versatile Martin Prado and pitcher David Phelps.
Eovaldi, a right-hander who turns 25 in February, was acquired by the Marlins in July 2012 as part of the deal that sent All-Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Eovaldi throws at up to 98 mph and was 6-14 with a 4.37 ERA last season. Eovaldi is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time.
Prado, 31, was obtained by the Yankees from the Arizona Diamondbacks at the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline and hit .316 with seven homers and 16 RBIs in 133 at-bats. An All-Star in 2010, he plays second, third and outfield. Prado is owed $11 million in each of the next two seasons and will collect his second $1 million assignment bonus for being traded.
The Yankees are sending the Marlins $3 million per season in twice-a-month installments to offset some of Prado’s salary.
Prado had been projected to start at second base. The trade could lead the Yankees to making another move or to give 23-year-old Rob Refsnyer a chance to win the second-base job in spring training. He hit .342 at Double-A Trenton and .300 at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last season.
Phelps, 28, was 5-5 with a 3.82 ERA in 17 starts and 15 relief appearances and had been in position to compete with Adam Warren and others to be New York’s fifth starter, a position open until Ivan Nova returns from elbow surgery in May or June. Phelps also is eligible for arbitration for the first time.
Jones, 33, provides backup to Mark Teixeira at first base and outfield depth behind projected starters Jacoby Ellsbury, Brett Gardner and Carlos Beltran. Jones hit .246 with 15 homers and 53 RBIs last season and is signed for $5 million for 2015. His acquisition seems to lock out Alex Rodriguez as a possible backup at first.
German, a 22-year-old right-hander, was 9-3 with a 2.48 ERA for Greensboro in the South Atlantic League, striking out 113 in 123 1/3 innings.
Thumbnail photo via Anthony Gruppuso/USA TODAY Sports Images
