Manny Parra looking forward to start anew – MLB News
After a season that reliever Manny Parra would look with rue in retrospect due to its being incredibly shaky and unimpressive, the Milwaukee Brewers free agent – nonetheless, wants to start anew. The Brewers on Friday, November 30, left him non-tendered, instead making offers to four other players.
Before Friday, there were other relievers that the Brewers formally cut tied with. They were Jose Veras, Livan Hernandez, Kameron Loe and Francisco Rodriguez.
Parra was part of the Brewers for over a decade. It was a march that witnessed both ups and downs: He began as a starter and then became a relief pitcher. Friday’s decision might have come as a mild shock to him. But he wants to move on – albeit with a positive move.
"I'm excited, because I feel like there's been some baggage that is tough to move on from," he said. "Being a starter -- a failed starter, in my opinion -- I feel like no matter what I did, I was always being compared to what kind of a starter I was, and trying to overcome those things. I'm excited to move on and improve and be a better player."
Usage of the word ‘baggage’ may have raised some eyebrows. But being made relief pitcher from the starter had come as a surprise to him; a change that he probably could never reconcile to. That is what he referred to while elaborating on ‘baggage’.
"I was never able to let it go," he said. "I just beat myself up a lot. I'm trying to move on from that stuff. I'm really trying to change the way I think."
While the past season was not in any way good for him and the club, his best season remained 2008 when he had 10-8 record, posting 4.39 ERA in his 32 appearances – 29 of which were starts.
Afterwards, his performance started declining – so it seemed. In 2009, he 6.36 ERA which led to his demotion to the Minor League. In 2010, Parra posted a 6.19 ERA, forcing the Brewers to send him to pitch in the relief.
With Winter Meetings around the corner, it is to be seen which team shows willingness to offer a contract to him.
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