Fantasy baseball impact: Gerardo Parra trade to Orioles
According to multiple reports, the Orioles are about to upgrade their corner outfield spots by acquiring Gerardo Parra from the Brewers. There is still plenty of time before the trade deadline for the team to make more moves, and they are reportedly in on Yoenis Cespedes as well. Let’s take a quick look at the fantasy baseball impact of the Gerardo Parra trade to Baltimore and how you should adjust your fantasy baseball strategy accordingly.
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Parra has been playing well for Milwaukee and has been especially hot throughout the month on July. With just one day left in the month, Parra is 37-85 (.435) in July with four homers, 10 RBI, and 23 runs scored. Parra has three straight multi-hit games and has hit safely in 14 straight games He’s definitely swinging a hot bat, but he still gets very few at-bats against left-handed pitching. Against righties for the season, he has an OPS of .898 and definitely offers the O’s a nice upgrade over Travis Snider and David Lough.
Snider and Lough will be the Orioles who lose their playing time as a result of the Parra acquisition. Parra will probably slot into the top of the Orioles lineup forming a solid 1-2 punch with Manny Machado who could slide to the two-spot or stay in the leadoff spot with Parra in the two-hole.
Parra moving to a better offense and a team in the playoff hunt upgrades his value. If you can still add him to your season-long team, he’s a great pickup for average, stole base potential, and a bit of power. He could cool off based on his numbers regressing a bit, but he’s definitely a ride-him-while-he’s-hot pickup that can help most fantasy baseball teams. Until his value rises, Parra is also a good play in daily fantasy baseball. He’s ultimately the big winner in the trade, although his owners have been enjoying his recent hot streak even though the rest of the Milwaukee offense struggled.
On the other side of the trade, the Brewers are getting back pitching prospect Zach Davies who is unlikely to be a fantasy factor this season but does possibly help the Brewers rotation in their youth movement in the coming years.
In the more immediate future, the Brewers outfield will have plenty of playing time after trading away both Parra and Carlos Gomez. Expect Khris Davis to play almost every day the rest of the way and utility man Shane Peterson to get more time in the outfield as well. Davis will hit near the middle of the order and be a key part of the new-look Brewers lineup although his fantasy value is still questionable.
The most interesting fantasy factor will be who hits leadoff for Milwaukee since Gomez and Parra were the two main leadoff options for the Brewers so far this season. Whoever gets the playing time and the leadoff role could offer significant daily league value and could earn a roster spot in season-long leagues as well. It will be interesting to watch the situation develop over the next few weeks as the Brewers adjust to their newly overhauled lineup.