A team mole has told us that Esteban "Spud" Parra will soon be a free agent. The right-handed reliever is only 27, and he strikes guys out at a remarkable rate. He was the Yellow Springs closer in 2023, registering 36 saves and a 3.18 ERA, but his 5.13 ERA last season was too much for the team to bear. He made $900K this season, and the club has an option to pick the contract up at the same rate in 2025. If true, this news suggests the club has already made a decision.
Nine Tired of Parra's Propensity to Provide Passes? Assuming the rumor is true, it can probably be said that Parra's career FIP (4.44) and tepid WAR numbers suggested the team could manage better than spending $900K on him. At 27, it's unlikely his control will ever come in (he walked 6.1 batters per nine last season, more than his 5.3 career average). "We've got kids in the minors who we think can do that for half the price," the informant said. "Don't get tied up in those 36 saves a couple years back. Saves are the RBI of the pitcher. Hell, Anderson and Sorensen had 28 between them this year, and they threw a 4.2 ERA."
Parra had been with Brooklyn and Huntsville (two seasons each) before coming to Yellow Springs.
