Nationals agree to terms with Gerardo Parra

The Washington Nationals agreed to terms on a one-year contract with outfielder Gerardo Parra and placed outfielder Andrew Stevenson on the 10-day Injured List with back spasms (retroactive to May 7) on Thursday. Additionally, the Nationals designated right-handed pitcher Jimmy Cordero for assignment. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements.

Parra, 32, joins the Washington Nationals after beginning the 2019 season with the San Francisco Giants. In 30 games with San Francisco, he hit .198 (17-for-86) with one home run, six RBI, eight walks, two stolen bases and eight runs scored.

A two-time Gold Glover in 2013 and 2011, Parra has seen action at left field (682 G), right field (430 G) center field (198 G) and first base (25 G).

Parra is coming off a 2018 season in which he appeared in 142 games with Colorado, his highest total since appearing in 155 games with Milwaukee and Baltimore in 2015. He finished the season hitting .284 with a .342 on-base percentage, while recording 17 doubles, six home runs, 53 RBI and 52 runs scored for the Colorado Rockies. The .342 on-base percentage was his highest mark since a career-best .357 on-base percentage in 2011 with Arizona.

In 2018, Parra ranked ninth in the National League, with a .326 (31-for-95) average with runners in scoring position. He also proved to be a contributor off the bench, ranking among National League pinch hitters in batting average, (3rd, .393) and hits (T4th,11).\

Parra has appeared in nine Postseason games across three Major League Postseasons with Arizona and Colorado. He hit .233 (7-for-30) with one double, one RBI, two walks and three runs scored in those nine Postseason games. In 2018, he appeared in three games, including a start in left field in Game 2 of the NLDS, and went 4-for-8 (.500) with one run scored and one walk.

A veteran of 11 Major League seasons, Parra has hit .277 with 253 doubles, 41 triples, 80 home runs, 480 RBI, 301 walks and 590 runs scored with the San Francisco Giants (2019), Colorado Rockies (2016-18), Baltimore Orioles (2015), Milwaukee Brewers (2014-15) and Arizona Diamondbacks (2009-14). A native of Santa Bárbara del Zulia, Venezuela, Parra was originally signed by Arizona as a non-drafted international free agent, Aug. 30, 2004.

Stevenson, 24, appeared in nine games for the Nationals, hitting .250 (3-for-12) with two walks and three runs scored.

Cordero, 27, went 1-2 with 5.68 ERA in 22 games for the Nationals in 2018.