Despite his recent slump with the Baltimore Orioles, outfielder Gerardo Parra still remains in the team's long-term plans. Rumors indicate the two sides have mutual interest in working out a contract once Parra hits free agency after the 2015 MLB season.
Baltimore acquired the 28-year-old from the Milwaukee Brewers before the MLB's non-waiver trade deadline for prospect pitcher Zach Davies, who was one of the top young players in the Orioles' organization. Parra initially made a good impression with the O's, but since mid-August his batting average went from .322 to .285 and his on-base percentage went from .365 to .322.
Nonetheless, he's still batting .285/.322/.449 with 79 runs scored, 14 home runs, 46 RBIs and 11 stolen bases on the season and perhaps the Orioles think he can be a good leadoff hitter for them (he's batting .340/.387/.549 in 37 games in that role this season).
"When the Orioles dealt for Parra, Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette said the club wanted to lock up the 28-year-old, two-time Gold Glover," writes Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun. "Sources say the club still wants to pursue a longer deal with Parra this winter, despite his offensive struggles since the trade."
Parra seems open to the idea as well.
"For sure. I like the fans. I like the team. I like the players," Parra said. "I like everything about here. It's a great team and all the people are good to me."
Rumors linked Baltimore to high-profile outfielders before the deadline such as Yoenis Cespedes and Justin Upton, but the cost for those two would have been much more excessive in any deal on top of whatever immense prices they are expected to command in the offseason. As a smaller market MLB club, the Orioles simply do not have the financial power to strike those types of deals, so it would have been a waste for them to surrender top prospects for their services.
Parra was both a realistic acquisition in a trade and free-agent signing, which is likely how Duquette viewed the situation. The Orioles are going to need to sign another outfielder or two considering Chris Davis and Steve Pearce are set to become free agents. Davis is expected to land a mammoth contract and it's unknown of the O's are interested in bringing back Pearce.
One thing that has remained consistent over the last couple of months is their focus on Parra.
"Parra is a pending free agent who might be signable before the market opens. He will be coming off his best season in the major leagues and he's the type of player the Orioles were looking for last winter when they needed to replace Nick Markakis," Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun wrote earlier this month.
"Parra is a Gold Glove outfielder with a plus arm and good on-base potential who fits nicely on a team that needs some offensive connectivity and takes its outfield defense very seriously. He's not a superstar, so he won't have to be paid like one, but he will command a multiyear deal."
While the rest of the MLB becomes fixated on Upton, Cespedes, Alex Gordon and Jason Heyward, the Orioles have a good chance to strike and keep Parra in Baltimore.
