Colorado Rockies sign Gerardo Parra to three-year contract

As first reported by Fox’s Jon Morosi and later confirmed by Parra himself the Colorado Rockies have signed outfielder Gerardo Parra. It is reportedly a 26 million dollar deal that will span three years. There has also been a reported fourth year team option for the Rockies.

Super excited to join the rockies! Working hard to get ready for #RoxSpring and the 2016… https://t.co/bZGiZcPhSF

— gerardo parra (@88_gparra) January 12, 2016

Parra is a left-handed hitting outfielder that will turn 29 in May. He joins a fleet of left-handed outfielders at Coors Field as the subtext to this signing means it is likely either Charlie Blackmon, Corey Dickerson or Carlos Gonzalez will be traded.

In his seven-year career which he has played for three different organizations, including six years in the NL West playing for Arizona, he has accumulated a 10.5 WAR. This goes along with a career slash line of .277/.326/.404. He’s gathered 69 stolen bases, collected 311 RBI and hit 56 home runs over the course of his big league career.

Parra had a rebound year with the bat in 2015 as it was his first year since 2011 with an above average wRC+ (weighted runs created plus). However, the two-time winning gold glove outfielder is better known as a defensive player. The two accolades came in 2011 and 2013, once in left field and the second time in right field. Since 2013, his defensive numbers have dropped off and 2015 was a rough year as he approximately cost his club 18 runs on defense over his 155 games which were split between Milwaukee and Baltimore.

Parra, much like Michael Cuddyer did before him, comes into Colorado on a three-year deal to be a veteran and play a corner outfield spot.