PHOENIX -- The way the Milwaukee Brewers see it, they have four starting outfielders.
Carlos Gomez and Ryan Braun will play every day in center field and right field, respectively, while Khris Davis enters the season as Milwaukee's primary left fielder.
For the first time in his career, Gerardo Parra is a backup. But he certainly isn't going to be treated like an average fourth outfielder. It is a good problem for the team to have, especially if manager Ron Roenicke can find a way to balance playing time to keep everybody happy.
"I don't want to think (anything) about having four outfielders," Parra said. "I'm just going to be working and playing hard every day. The manager knows if I will play every day or not, because we have a good outfield. My plan only is to work hard every day.
"I'm happy to be here. I like this team. Everybody is together. It is a new year. I feel more comfortable every day."
A starting outfielder for the vast majority of his six-year career, Parra had to wonder if returning to Milwaukee would be in his best interests. The Brewers could have dealt from a position of strength, but instead decided to keep all four of their starting-caliber outfielders.
Parra appeared in 46 of Milwaukee's final 53 games after the Brewers acquired him from the Arizona Diamondbacks on July 31. He made 28 starts -- 18 in left field and five each in center field and right field.
His role will be similar this season, spelling Davis against certain right-handed pitchers, giving Braun and Gomez an occasional day off and being used quite frequently as a defensive replacement or a pinch hitter.
"If that's what I'm doing, I'll prepare for that," Parra said. "I prepare for everything. I know (a bench role) is really hard, but I don't want to put too much pressure (on myself). The only thing is, what is my role? And that's it."
Although he is in a role he isn't used to and doesn't prefer, Parra insists he's happy with the Brewers.
"That's what he tells me," Roenicke said. "He's really got a great attitude, but he wants to be out there. In my mind, if I had got him 200 at-bats this year, he'd be disappointed. He's a better player than that and we need to get him out there."
Roenicke feels it will be easy to get Parra in more often that not, as he will be more apt to give Braun, Gomez or even Davis a day off because when he can stick a player like Parra in the lineup rather than the average fourth outfielder.
The fact Parra is a left-handed hitter will also help Roenicke play the matchups, as Milwaukee's three starting outfielders are all right-handed hitters.
"Usually when you give your three guys a day off it's because they really need to have it," Roenicke said. "It's not that way with Parra because, for me, Parra is a starter so I consider him a guy that, if the matchups are good for him, he's going to be in the game. I'm not waiting for somebody to be tired and has to have a day off; it's going to be different with him."
The left-handed hitting Parra hit a combined .261 with nine home runs and 40 RBI with the Diamondbacks and Brewers last season. He hit .279 against right-handed pitchers while with Milwaukee, while he received just 12 at-bats against lefties after the trade.
Davis has potential to hit 25 or more home runs, while Parra declined a bit offensively last season. Parra is a two-time Gold Glove winner, while Davis has one of the weaker throwing arms in baseball.
In his final offseason of arbitration, Parra agreed to a one-year, $6.2 million contract with the Brewers. He hopes that he is able to impress enough to earn a job as a starting outfielder when he hits the free-agent market at 28 years old following the 2015 season.
"Yeah, that's my plan," Parra said. "I say again, if I don't play every day I won't feel bad. If I don't play every day I will be happy, too. My job is to play baseball in a Milwaukee uniform to do the best I can."
Follow Andrew Gruman on Twitter
