It looks like an old face is coming back to the Baltimore Orioles, assuming he can make the team out of spring training. Southpaw John Parrish has signed a minor league contract with the Orioles and will compete for a roster spot in Spring Training.
Parrish, a 31-year-old who spent last season with the Toronto Blue Jays, will also get an invite to major league spring training and his contract will include an out-clause that will allow him to opt out of it if he’s not on the major league roster by April 3, three days before the Orioles’ season opener.
Parrish is hoping to get an opportunity to start for the Orioles. He went 10-1 with a 2.97 ERA in 17 games (13 starts) at Triple-A Syracuse last year. He then appeared in 13 games, including six starts with the Blue Jays, going 1-1 with a 4.04 ERA.
“In John’s mind, he’d like to come in and compete as a starter,” his agent Joe Longo said today. “I don’t think he has a problem if he moves to the bullpen. But in his mind, he started something in Toronto as a starter and he wants to continue that.”
Parrish is returning to an organization to where he has some comfort and some knowledge. As well, he will be seemingly just one of many arms vying for a spot as a pitcher. Based on how the rotation is shaping, the Orioles will need all the arms they can get.
His health may be a concern, as he had a few setbacks during his previous Orioles tenure, but it looks like now he’ll either start, or may find himself working out of the bullpen assuming all goes well.
