Major League Baseball

Braves' Prado agrees to $4.75 million contract

Published Jan. 13, 2012 6:32 p.m. ET

foxsports

Outfielder Martin Prado has avoided arbitration with the Atlanta Braves by agreeing to a $4.75 million contract for 2012.

Prado, who made $3.1 million last season, is a versatile player who could be the long-term replacement at third base when Chipper Jones retires. He moved to left field in 2011 and slumped a bit, batting .260 with 13 homers and 57 RBIs. Before that, he had three straight years hitting above .300.

Prado's deal, announced Friday, leaves the Braves with three players eligible for arbitration: pitcher Jair Jurrjens, outfielder Michael Bourn and reliever Eric O'Flaherty.