Marlins sign Martin Prado to 3-year, $40 million extension

The Marlins have agreed to a 3-year, $40 million contract extension with third baseman Martin Prado, according to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald. Prado was slated to become a free agent after the season.

The signing of Prado represents a small bright spot in an impossibly tough week for the Marlins, who lost ace Jose Fernandez in a boating accident early Sunday. Prado has been one of the club’s leaders since news broke of Fernandez’s death, and was the only player to speak at the team’s first press conference Sunday afternoon.

On the field, Prado has performed well in his second season with the Marlins, posting a .305/.360/.415 line with seven home runs in 149 games. The 32-year old will now stay with the Marlins through the end of his age-35 season in 2019.

Miami had expressed interest in bringing Prado back throughout the month, with a recent report stating that the club was interested in a 2-year deal. They apparently were willing to up that offer to include a third season, getting a deal done before the veteran hit free agency.

Prado is a veteran of 11 major-league seasons with the Braves (2006-12), Diamondbacks (2013-14), Yankees (2014) and Marlins (2015-16), owning a .293/.342/.423 line with 94 home runs in that time. He was an All-Star in 2010 with Atlanta, and previously signed a 4-year, $40 million deal with Arizona in early 2013.