Reports continue to circulate that the Rockies are pushing for free-agent outfielder Gerardo Parra.
(Mike McGinnis, Getty Images)
The big-league outfield dominoes have begun to fall, which could spark some offseason movement by the Rockies.
With the Royals recently re-signing Alex Gordon (four years, $72 million) and the Giants signing Denard Span on Thursday (three years, $31 million), other free-agent outfielders are going to start signing on the dotted line in short order.
Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to spring training just six weeks from Thursday.
Reports continue to crop up that the Rockies are pushing hard for free-agent Gerardo Parra, who played last year with the Brewers and the Orioles. The latest tease comes from Jon Heyman, who was the first to report the Parra-Rockies connection on Dec. 31:
rockies are among teams making a push for gerardo parra. OF market obviously starting to percolate.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman)
If the Rockies are indeed aggressively pursuing Parra, what does that mean? Parra, 28, is seeking a multiyear deal and it’s difficult to see the Rockies signing him without trading their most expensive outfielder. That would be Carlos Gonzalez, who is owed $37 million in salary over the next two years.
I’ve been told there is a tug-of-war at 20th and Blake about trading CarGo, even if it’s for an accomplished starting pitcher, or a top prospect and a reliever. The Rockies are going to drive a hard bargain for Gonzalez, who came back from injuries to hit a career-high 40 homers last season.
, “seven or eight teams” are pursuing Parra, so the Rockies are not a lock to land him by any means.
The Rockies also are 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.
It’s highly doubtful the Rockies will land a free-agent pitcher, mostly because the cost would be too high and because free-agent pitchers are spooked by the prospect of pitching at Coors Field.
Parra has talent, but lacks CarGo’s power. He can play all three outfield positions and won a Gold Glove in left field in 2011 and won a Gold Glove in right field in 2013.
Last season, Parra hit .291 with a .328 on-base percentage, a .452 slugging percentage with 14 homers and 51 RBIs.
He hit better with the Brewers (.328/.369/.517) than the Orioles (.237/.268/.357). Parra hit .274/.326/.395 in six seasons with the Diamondbacks before being traded to the Brewers on July 31, 2014.
Tags: Carlos Gonzalez, Charlie Blackmon, Corey Dickerson, Gerardo Parra
