Baltimore Orioles interested in bringing back Gerardo Parra
The Baltimore Orioles are interested in bringing back outfielder Gerardo Parra, according to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick. Parra spent the later half of the 2015 season in Baltimore after being traded in July form the Milwaukee Brewers.
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Parra’s batting average took a serious hit after joining the O’s, as he hit just .237 in 55 games with Baltimore. Despite those numbers however, Parra is a two-time Gold Glove Award winner and has age on his side, which will make him a popular target on the market to be a fourth outfielder or corner outfielder for budget-conscious clubs that can’t afford Jason Heyward or Alex Gordon.
The Orioles are one of those clubs, and could use help at both corner outfield spots. The departures of Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis left Baltimore short on outfield options entering 2015, and the list has only shrunk since then with the struggles of Delmon Young and potential departures of Parra, Chris Davis and Steve Pearce.
Baltimore has also been linked to Reds outfielder Jay Bruce in trade rumors, and the club is reportedly considering a reunion with former Oriole L.J. Hoes. Top outfield prospects D.J. Stewart, Mike Yastrzemski and Josh Hart all need more minor-league seasoning, which currently leaves Junior Lake, utility man Ryan Flaherty and Nolan Reimold, Henry Urrutia and Jimmy Paredes set to battle it out for playing time if the season started tomorrow.
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Crasnick reports that the Orioles would rather stick to a one- or two-year deal with Parra, which could potentially put them on the outside looking in for his services. Parra could, however, take a short-term deal if he bet on himself improving his offensive production to boost his free agent stock in 2016 or 2017.