Would Gerardo Parra be a good fit to lead off for Nationals in 2016?

The Nationals' search for a leadoff hitter could once again turn toward the possibility of signing free agent Gerardo Parra, a left-handed hitter that president of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo has had a good relationship with since his days with the Diamondbacks. MLB.com wrote about the Nationals' possible intent to acquire Parra way back in 2012.

The Nationals currently have five outfielders on their 40-man roster, headlined by Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth. Michael A. Taylor has shown flashes of potential to be an everyday player and is certainly a very important first-off-the-bench type of player. Matt den Dekker came on strong at the end of the season and also could be a valuable utility bat. Brian Goodwin is still growing as a player with potential, playing winter ball in Venezuela for Margarita.

That list of players has the still youthful and recently crowned National League MVP and the up and coming Taylor on one end, and a valuable utility bat in den Dekker and the veteran Werth at the other end of the spectrum. Harper, den Dekker and Goodwin all are lefty hitters.

A player like Parra would fill a valuable vacancy on the Nationals roster as a left-handed hitter and, more importantly, a player that can lead off. He has played all three outfield spots and has now played more than 200 games in center field.

If money is the issue, he could be a more economical deal than what Denard Span is getting on the open market. There were reports that Rizzo couldn't pull the trigger on Parra last season during the trade deadline because of the ownership mandate to not add to the payroll on July 31.

According to Spotrac.com's contracts, Parra made a combined $6.23 million between the Brewers and Orioles last season. He is 28 with 6.145 years of service.

Span made $9 million last season with the Nationals and is 31 with 7.111 years of service as a first-round selection in 2002.

But Parra is more known for his corner outfield abilities, and several teams have considered him in that role, including the Mets and Mariners, but more as a platoon-type player.

Parra was acquired by the Orioles at the trade deadline last year after a scorching start to the season in Milwaukee. From what some are saying on MLBTradeRumors.com, it doesn't appear that the Orioles would be interested in him returning. Parra would also like to find a deal worth more than just two years, a sticking point for several free agents when they look for their next stop vested with six or seven years of big league service.

But another scenario would be to shelve the pursuit of Parra and just make Taylor the center fielder.

So who would lead off? Could the Nats go a whole season with Werth leading off? It seems more of a stopgap measure than a 162-game solution. Taylor's strikeout numbers are too high to be an everyday leadoff hitter. Anthony Rendon could be a possibility. He led off in 24 games in 2015, but was only available for 80 games because of injury issues.

Taylor led off in 31 starts last season, but his on-base percentage was only .229 and he struck out 54 times in 139 at bats.

Parra led off in 37 games last season and had a .340 batting average with a .386 on-base percentage. He struck out only 22 times and walked 11 times. He had eight stolen bases, 11 doubles, three triples, five homers and 15 RBIs batting at the top of the order last season. Thirteen of his 14 homers last season came hitting No. 1 or No. 2 in the order.

He hasn't had his better defensive numbers in center field. But in 2015, he played in center field 40 times versus only 12 starts in 2014. He has started 186 of his 911 big league games in center. Would the Nationals trade his less-than-outstanding defensive numbers in center field to have him as a true leadoff hitter? I think they can make that sacrifice if it means they have Rendon, Werth, Ryan Zimmerman and Harper right behind in the lineup to bring him in.

Rizzo loves his Arizona guys, and Parra is loyal to Rizzo because he gave him a shot to start his career. It could be a good match in D.C.