The Baltimore Orioles have reportedly come to terms with the Milwaukee Brewers in trading for Gerardo Parra for Zach Davies. Gerardo Parra, 28, is currently on a career season posting a .328/.369/.517 slash line with 9 HR and 35 RBI. He currently ranks with a 140 wRC+, which is a major outlier compared this career average of 95 wRC+. One of the reasons behind this increase is due to the increased BABIP from a .328 career average to .372 this year. However, he has also increased his power this season based on ISO which has to be intriguing to the Orioles as a LHH.
In the trade, the Orioles gave up Zach Davies who has a 2.84 ERA in 18 starts in Norfolk this season. He has struck out 81 and walked 33 in 101.1 innings pitched. He has been ranked as a top 200 prospect according to Fangraphs, the #6 prospect in the organization by Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus. He’s projected to be a back end rotation starter, which the Orioles seem to be filled with at this time with Tyler Wilson and Mike Wright.
Parra should serve as an option to push Chris Davis back to First Base. I expect him to be used in Right Field playing in tandem with Travis Snider against RHP. Over the past few years, he has shown a limiting of range. However, the Orioles should be use to limited range outfielders based on the track record so far this year.
The platoon usage in the outfield may continue with the Orioles. Parra is posting a 144 wRC+ against RHP this year and over his career a 104 wRC+. However against LHP, this number drops to 122 wRC+ for the season (in only 53 PA) and over his career a 63 wRC+. The use of Steve Pearce and Nolan Reimold against LHP may be more advisable.
