Yankees interested in potentially acquiring a pair of Marlins?

Without much production from their current corner infield options, the Yankees reportedly contacted the Marlins about the availability of third baseman Martin Prado and first baseman Justin Bour.

As first reported by Bob Nightengale of USA Today,  the Yankees reached out to the Miami Marlins about the availability of 33-year-old super utility man Martin Prado.

"The Yankees and Red Sox have each recently informed the Marlins that they have interest in third baseman Martin Prado, according to high-ranking officials with direct knowledge of the preliminary talks. They spoke to USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the trade talks.The Yankees also would like to acquire Marlins power-hitting first baseman Justin Bour."

Back on July 31, 2014, Prado was acquired by the Yanks from the Diamondbacks for prospect Peter O’Brien and a PTNL. In the 37 games that followed, Prado was utilized all around the diamond, while hitting .316 with seven home runs and 16 RBI.

Unfortunately, a wrist injury, coupled with a season-ending appendectomy was the last we’d see of Prado in pinstripes, as the club shipped him to the Marlins that December as part of a five-player trade, highlighted by the acquisition of young upstart shooter Nathan Eovaldi.

Why the Yankees would entertain the idea of re-acquiring a guy who has only played in 23 games this season due to a severe hamstring injury — while slashing .286/.305/.396 with two homers, 10 RBI and four doubles is curious.

I understand he’s only accumulated 96 at-bats, and that his numbers would likely rise significantly if he were to stay healthy from here on out (after all, he is a career .293 hitter).

Prado also has the highest fielding percentage of any active third baseman, .969, and batted .424 last season against left-handed pitchers.

But his contract is a major hurdling block — as he’s set to earn $28.5 million through the 2019 season.

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Current Yankees third baseman Chase Headley is set to make another $13 million next season, so it’s likely the organization would need some desperate club to take Headley off their hands before seriously thinking about Prado.

Then there’s the issue of Prado blocking Miguel Andujar or Gleyber Torres‘ possible ascent to the majors in 2018. Yes, Prado can again become that uber-utility player, but that’s what Tyler Wade is being groomed for. And if the Yankees are still trying to shed salary in order to get under the luxury tax threshold, then Prado makes zero sense.

Another option is to shift Headley across the diamond to first base. Though he’s only played 13 games at first during his 11-year career, one would believe he’d be a better defensive option than the recently promoted Chris Carter.

One person on Twitter recently told me Carter is fine at first base for the Yanks because he’s tall and can scoop. I did all I could not to fall off my couch laughing. I really wish this were true about tall people in general — as there’s a few New York Knicks that could be of use.

The other rumor Nightengale reported on makes a bit more sense. At 29, Justin Bour has finally begun to show that he’s a legitimate left-handed power bat.

The four-year Washington D.C. product is slashing .284/.358/.555 with 18 long balls and 50 RBI.

A bit of a late bloomer, Bour didn’t reach the big leagues until the age of 26, and has yet to play more than 129 games in a single season, including only 90 in 2016. So skeptics have a case to be made if he is actually in the midst of a career-year and nothing more. I prefer to think Bour is finally coming into his own.

With Greg Bird moving to the 60-day DL and likely lost for the season, Tyler Austin set to miss at least the next 10 days with a right hamstring strain, the enigma known as Chris Carter and Austin Romine who’s really a catcher as to whom manager Joe Girardi can use at first, the Yankees must decide if making a bold move for Bour is in their best interests, both this year and beyond.

A future lineup with Bird and Bour in it is a possibility, since Bour is a career .995 fielder, having only committed 10 errors during his career. This would allow Bird, whose defense is lacking (and that’s putting it nicely) to become the everyday DH. Of course, this is dependent upon his overall health and ability to hit like he did this past spring.

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Bour, who is being paid $552,00, and is set to enter the first of three arbitration years would likely cost three mid-level prospects — so this could very well intrigue the Bombers’ brass.