Winners and Losers from Nationals signing of Gerardo Parra
The Nationals have reached an agreement with Gerardo Parra on a minor league contract. Time to look at the winners and losers of this deal.
Well, the nostalgia tour has spilled into the 2021 season folks. We actually saw how this movie played out in 2020 when the Nationals brought back several members of their World Series team for a second go around. The result was a 26-34 record and a spot on the division floor in the National League East standings.
While the additions of a couple sluggers, a veteran pitcher, and some bullpen help, have been great, the Nationals steered towards memory lane when they signed outfielder Gerardo Parra to a minor league contract.
If you are a Nationals fan, Parra needs no introduction. For those of you who are not, a brief recap. When Parra was signed in 2019, the Nationals were eight games under .500 and sitting in fourth place in the division. His first hit with the team was a go-ahead, eighth inning, grand slam to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Parra had modest contributions with the bat and glove, though his impact was felt with his energy and the excitement which surrounded him. The Baby Shark phenomenon and the colored sunglasses, just two of the additions to the team credited to Parra. His presence tied the “family” together and made for a memorable run to the World Series.
After a year playing for the Yomiuri Giants of the Japan Central League, Gerardo Parra is back. He may just be on a minor league contract now, though my hunch is he’ll make the roster as a goodwill story. There is a 26-man roster right? Here is your 26th man. Good, bad, or indifferent.
His presence on the roster will create a trickle down affect and today we look at the winners and losers from this move.
Winners:
Gerardo Parra
Of course Parra is a winner here. He is back playing professional baseball in America after one year abroad. His contract to play for the Yomiuri Giants paid $2.5M and could have come along with some incentives. Todd Dybas of NBC Sports Washington had this to say when Parra signed with Yomiuri last year:
“I’m sure there’s some marketing aspect of this involved in the whole thing too after what happened here in D.C. last season but his chances of getting a major-league job next year were very, very low and this just makes sense at this point in his career,”
Presumably Parra did a cash grab in Japan, while hitting .267 in 47 games and is back Stateside. He’ll earn $1M if he makes the Nationals roster (which I think he will) and he’ll get showered with praise and adoration for his part in the 2019 World Series run. Several Nationals won’t get this luxury (Kurt Suzuki, Howie Kendrick, Anibal Sanchez, etc.), Parra will.
Promotions Department
Up until yesterday I am sure the good people in the Nationals Promotions Department were sitting around trying to figure out what to do for fan giveaways. Then news dropped Gerardo Parra had been signed. They haven’t stopped working since. Sunglasses giveaway. Anything Baby Shark giveaway. Parra jumping over the dugout railing to celebrate Juan Soto’s Wild Card hit, bobble head giveaway. Group hug, shirt giveaway. I mean, the guy’s number was 88, how uncommon is that in baseball? That will be mixed in somehow. The ideas are endless. Parra was a fan favorite and he just made life easier for those people in promotions.
https://twitter.com/masnNationals/status/1357087458308083721
Kids ages 2-6
This is the targeted demographic if you wanted to catch the Baby Shark Live Show. Though, they say it’s a family show and all ages can enjoy. I know what it is like to take a child (multiple children in fact) between the ages of 2-6 to a baseball game and try to get them to pay attention. The task, is not easy. If there are baby shark images around the stadium, or the song plays when Parra comes to bat, or there are people dressed in fuzzy shark costumes, children are more engaged with their environment. Families are more apt to go to games together and enjoy baseball, as well as the experience. Kids are definitely winners here.
Ticket Sales
Families are more apt to go to games together and enjoy baseball, as well as the experience. Well, this one only works if fans are allowed in the stadium. This one only works if the number of fans isn’t capped at some ridiculously low number. No, I do not believe Gerardo Parra the baseball player is going to help sell tickets. Gerardo Parra, the personality, he will help sell baseball tickets. It’s a gimmick that the team rode through the end of the 2019 season. The fans never got to run it back, and while themes only last one year, this is one they are going to be nostalgic about.
Losers:
Andrew Stevenson
This was supposed to be Andrew Stevenson’s chance to shine. The former second round draft pick was installed as the fourth outfielder after a smoking hot end to the 2020 season, and was going to get every opportunity possible to show he belongs in the big leagues for good. Stephenson will be the fourth outfielder, however, Parra is going to steal playing time and at-bats from him. If Parra hits, it’s good for the team, bad for Stevenson. The more Parra plays, the more Stevenson is reduced to a pinch runner/defensive replacement for Kyle Schwarber.
Yadiel Hernandez
Aside from Stevenson, Yadiel Hernandez is the only other outfielder on the 40-man roster who is not projected to be in the starting lineup. That is, until Gerardo Parra has his contract purchased and bumps Hernandez down a notch on the depth chart. Hernandez is projected to begin the season at Triple-A Rochester. He was one injury away from getting the call to the big leagues. Now he is one injury and Gerardo Parra away from getting a second change at the majors.
All the other free agent outfielders
As of the beginning of the week, there were still over 140 free agents looking for jobs. There are dozens of outfielders who are still in the unemployment line. Most of which probably could not be had for $1M, yet are younger or have a better resume than Parra. The Nationals have given Parra a minor league contract, though for all intents and purposes I believe he will be on the 26-man roster. Where I don’t think that roster spot would have gone to an outfielder had the Nationals not signed Parra, the spot was there for the taking by another free agent. Parra may have found another team to sign a minor league contract with, though not one with a sentimental connection or advanced track to the majors.
Nationals current non-roster invitees
A handful of non-roster invitees will descend upon the spring training complex with hopes of earning a spot on the big club. The 40-man roster currently sits at 39 for the Nationals so barring a trade or a DFA, only one NRI will make the team. Enter Gerardo Parra.
Next. Dr. Fauci requests another first pitch. dark