The Phillies reportedly wanted to add a free agent bat this offseason. One name that was mentioned in the discussion was free agent-to-be Martin Prado of the Miami Marlins. Prado seemed to fit the category of what the Phillies needed: a veteran bat who makes contact and can be a stable force in the lineup. However, the Phillies will not get a chance to sign Prado.
Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports that the Marlins and Prado have agreed to a three-year, $40 million contract. The dollar amount is rather reasonable, considering Prado batted .305 in 600 at bats in 2016. The versatile defender can play both infield and outfield positions, enabling him to move around the diamond. That attribute would have helped the Phillies, who could use him accordingly while waiting for prospects to rise to the big leagues.
The Marlins also announced that they picked up the option on outfielder Ichiro Suzuki. After joining MLB's 3000 hit club in 2016, Suzuki could have been a free agent. Though 42 years old, Suzuki remained productive, batting .291 while serving as a left-handed pinch-hitter and fill-in outfielder. Suzuki also received another contract option for 2018.
The Marlins also fired hitting coach Barry Bonds. While Bonds has been a successful tutor to the likes of Ryan Howard and other players, reports out of Miami show that he did not function well as a typical hitting coach, having trouble getting along with the rest of the coaching staff and being unwilling to physically participate in drills. The Marlins also dismissed third base coach Lenny Harris, who could be a name the Phillies consider for their hitting coach vacancy. Harris served as Marlins assistant hitting coach before moving to third base to make room for Bonds.
