/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47681129/GettyImages-489847542.0.jpg)
The Mets have been in touch with Gerardo Parra's agent, according to Mark Carig. The team is known to be looking for a center fielder to pair with Juan Lagares and has previously been linked to Parra and other outfielders. The Mets were rumored to have expressed interest in a trade for Parra when he was still with the Brewers during the season, but a deal never materialized and Parra was traded to the Orioles.
The 28-year-old could be a good platoon partner with Lagares, given his ability to hit right-handed pitching. For his career, Parra has hit a very respectable .289/.335/.432 against right-handed pitchers, while hitting only .232/.296/.302 against lefties. He has played all three outfield positions in the big leagues, but he spent the grand majority of his time playing the corner outfield positions. Carig reports that the Mets believe he could handle center field.
Parra had arguably his best year at the dish in 2015, hitting .291/.328/.452 with 14 home runs, 36 doubles, and 14 stolen bases in 18 attempts. He is not without his warts, however, as his walk rate has decreased in each of the past four seasons, dropping from 8.7% in 2011 to 4.8% in 2015. Defensive metrics DRS and UZR/150 both rated his work in the corner outfield positions highly for years, but both metrics rated his work in the corners in 2015 poorly.