Atlanta Braves: Could the Braves Bring Martin Prado Back to Atlanta in 2020?
By Kit Anderson
The Atlanta Braves recent move of signing Marcell Ozuna suggests they are done making splashy moves on this year’s free agent and trade markets. However, there are still several bargain bin options in free agency that would be intriguing fits for Atlanta.
The Atlanta Braves will seemingly be content with their current options at third base with a big move becoming very unlikely. However, there isn’t any reason to think Atlanta won’t continue to be aggressive looking for bargains on the free agent market.
One such bargain could be former Braves utility man Martin Prado. Prado played his best seasons with Atlanta before making stops with the Diamondbacks, Yankees, and Marlins. Now a free agent mulling retirement could Atlanta tempt Prado back to play one final season?
He hasn’t had a productive season since 2016 facing injuries that have derailed his production. Now at 36-years old Prado is reportedly eyeing retirement and unlikely to play in 2020.
However, if any team were to tempt Prado to play one final season it would likely be his original team, the team where he had his best seasons and was closest to winning in the postseason.
Giving Prado a one year deal to return to Atlanta and help hold down the third base job would be a fun reunion that seems unlikely to happen.
While there has been little confirmation as to whether or not he would return, it does seem as if Prado is retired for the time being with hardly any rumors surrounding the free agent this off-season.
If the Braves managed to sign Prado (a career .287 hitter) out of retirement it would likely have to be a guaranteed one year deal, not a minor league deal that could end Prado’s career on a lower note than he did in Miami. It is certainly an interesting potential match, especially if Prado somehow managed to capture the magic he had during his best seasons in Atlanta.