Reunion of former D-backs in Seattle sure makes sense
New Seattle Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto wants to improve his team’s outfield defense.
We shouldn’t be surprised if he signs free agent Gerardo Parra to address the need.
Parra’s reputation as a superb outfielder is well-established, having won Gold Gloves in 2011 and 2013 with the Arizona Diamondbacks. And Dipoto knows Parra well, as a person and player, thanks to Dipoto’s tenure as a Diamondbacks executive from 2006 through 2011.
“Love him,” Dipoto said Tuesday, when asked about Parra at the Major League Baseball general managers’ meetings. “Gerardo’s a great kid. Love his attitude. He plays hard. He’s coming off a very good year. The version of what Gerardo did this year in Milwaukee is what we could have dreamed he was going to be when we had him at 18, 19 years old in the Diamondbacks system.
“He can really play defense. He can really throw. And he can rake right-handed pitching.”
Notably, the Mariners’ .241 batting average against right-handed pitching was the worst in the major leagues this year.
Parra, 28, has played the corner outfield positions for much of his big-league career, but he has experience in center, too. His superior ability to cover ground would be especially valuable to the Mariners at expansive Safeco Field.
Does all of that mean Parra will sign with the Mariners? No. But there’s a fit, and the general managers’ meetings are about identifying fits. This is one of them.
