Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish is reporting that the Colorado Rockies have ramped up their efforts to sign free agent outfielder Gerardo Parra, according to industry sources. Cotillo adds that the two sides are not very close to a deal at this point, as Parra is drawing interest from other clubs, including the Nationals and Angels.
Parra put up respectable numbers last year, splitting time between the Milwaukee Brewers and Baltimore. He posted a combined .291/.328/.452 line in his 2015 campaign with 14 home runs, 51 RBI, 83 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases.
He only walked 28 times this past season and had a 4.8 walk rate, but that may have been an outlier as in his previous four seasons Parra averaged 7.3. Plus, his 15.6 K/9 was the best mark of his career.
Defensively, Parra is quite a defender who can handle himself nicely in the field. He’s won two Gold Gloves in right field, but has played a fair share of games in left field and center as well where he’s logged 186 games.
With Alex Gordon re-signing with the Kansas City Royals at four years, $72 million, and Denard Span recently agreeing on a three-year deal worth $31 million with the San Francisco Giants, the outfield market is really starting to heat up.
Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post speculates that with the Rockies in hot pursuit of Parra, it could signal that Colorado will move ahead and deal Carlos Gonzalez, perhaps for a top starting pitcher or for a top reliever and a prospect.
Saunders also reports that the Rockies are still listening to trade offers for center fielder Charlie Blackmon and left fielder Cory Dickerson. Blackmon is up for arbitration for the first time, while Dickerson is a year away from arbitration and under club control for four years.
Meanwhile the market remains soft for Justin Upton and Yoenis Cespedes, although that could change now. On Thursday, Mets GM Sandy Alderson weighed in on Cespedes, referring to him as a square peg and not an ideal fit for the team.
