D-backs agree to a four-year contract with Martin Prado, avoid arbitration

The Arizona Diamondbacks announced they have agreed to a four-year contract through 2016 with infielder/outfielder Martin Prado, according to D-backs Executive Vice President & General Manager Kevin Towers.

Prado, 29, hit .301 (186-for-617) with 42 doubles, 10 home runs and 70 RBI in 156 games with the Braves in 2012. He led the National League with 60 multi-hit games, ranked fourth in hits and fifth in doubles while playing five different positions (left field, third base, second base, first base and shortstop).

Prado was named to the 2010 NL All-Star Team and received NL Most Valuable Player consideration in 2010 (9th place) and 2012 (T-20th). He has hit at least .300 in three of the last four seasons, joining Joey Votto, Ryan Braun and Aramis Ramirez as the only four NL players to accomplish that feat (min. 200 plate appearances).

Since 2009, Prado ranks among NL leaders in multi-hit games (T-2nd, 193), doubles (3rd, 146), hits (5th, 651) and average (12th, .294).

The Venezuela native is a career .295 (752-for-2546) hitter with 168 doubles, 52 home runs and 286 RBI in 683 games with Atlanta. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound right-handed hitter has made 222 appearances in left, 209 at second, 191 at third, 56 at first, 15 at shortstop and 1 in right.

Prado, who was named to Venezuela's provisional World Baseball Classic roster, was acquired by Arizona on Jan. 25 with right-handed pitchers Randall Delgado and Zeke Spruill and infielders Nick Ahmed and Brandon Drury in exchange for outfielder Justin Upton and infielder Chris Johnson.