Popular Parra signs with Japanese club

Baby Shark is swimming across the Pacific to begin a new chapter in his career.

Gerardo Parra, who surprisingly became a major contributor to the Nationals' World Series title on and off the field, signed overnight with the Yomiuri Giants of the Japanese Central League, dashing any hope the popular outfielder would return to Washington for another season.

Parra agreed to a deal that includes a $2 million guaranteed salary, plus $500,000 in bonuses and a $3 million vesting option for 2021, according to ESPN Deportes. After making the major league minimum of $555,000 this season, it's a significant financial upgrade for the 32-year-old.

Parra becomes the first member of the Nationals' championship roster to officially leave. With a host of other prominent free agents including Anthony Rendon, Stephen Strasburg, Howie Kendrick, Ryan Zimmerman, Daniel Hudson, Asdrúbal Cabrera, Matt Adams, Brian Dozier and Yan Gomes now on the open market, there are likely to be more departures this winter.

Though his actual performance didn't stack up to most of those others, Parra nonetheless made himself an integral part of the Nationals roster after he joined the club in early May. Dumped by the Giants after hitting just .198 in 30 games, he signed with the Nats, who desperately needed another left-handed bat after Adams, Juan Soto and Andrew Stevenson all landed on the injured list.

Parra instantly made an impact when he clubbed a go-ahead grand slam May 12 in Los Angeles, then added several more key hits before going through an 0-for-23 slump that left his future with the club in question. Then he stepped up to the plate in the first game of a June 19 doubleheader against the Phillies to the strains of "Baby Shark," the catchy (if sometimes annoying) song beloved by preschoolers including Parra's young daughter.

Parra would notch an RBI double in that first at-bat, then later club a home run to help lead the Nationals to victory, and a new phenomenon was born. "Baby Shark" remained his walk-up song for the rest of the season, and over time Nationals fans began to greet him to the plate with shark-chomping hand motions, stuffed animals and even a few full-body costumes.

Teammates, upon reaching base, would make various shark-chomping motions back to the dugout depending on the type of hit they recorded: Baby Shark for a single, Mommy Shark for a double, Daddy Shark for a triple.

Parra's offensive totals in 89 games with the Nationals were decent: a .250 batting average, eight homers, 42 RBIs, a .747 OPS. The timing of his hits was more impressive: he batted a stunning .375 with a 1.245 OPS with runners in scoring position.

More importantly, Parra had a major impact on teammates. He was a mentor to young outfielders Soto and Victor Robles, and his always-sunny, always-energetic personality spread through the clubhouse.

"He went through a stretch where he was 2-for-30-something," manager Davey Martinez recalled during the postseason. "And I didn't see the energy that I was seeing when he was doing well and bringing it to the clubhouse. So I called him in one day, and I sat with him. I said: 'What's going on?' He said: 'I don't know. I'm not doing good.' And I go: 'And?' And he looked at me and said: 'What do you mean?' I said: 'Your job is to bring the energy every day. I don't care if you're 2-for-100. Bring the energy. Play that music, get loud and have fun. Have fun.' He said: 'You're right.'

"And he went back and started playing music, having fun. Lo and behold, he went on a tear again. And he comes back in my office, and he said: 'You know, I kind of forgot what it was like to just be myself.' And I said: 'Exactly.'"