CLEVELAND, Ohio – A seasoned aide, Blake Parker is expected to sign a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians that includes an invitation to the major league spring training camp pending physical training, the club confirmed on Monday.
MLB Network Insider John Heyman first reported the agreement on TwitterThis suggests that Parker had at least one other offer for a major league contract, but chose Cleveland. Parker’s deal could gross him nearly $ 2.5 million if he hits his incentives, Heyman reported. If that’s true, the right-hander will become the highest-paid pitcher on Cleveland’s roster.
Parker, 35, has played eight seasons for six different clubs, including the Cubs, Yankees and Phillies. He spent the last two years in Philadelphia and was 3-0 with 2.81 ERA and 14.1 strikeouts per nine innings. Parker will the second ex-Phillies aide who made a minor league deal with the Indians in the past two weeks. On February 3, right-wing Heath Hembree signed a $ 1.25 million deal in making the top league list.
Parker’s Fastball is not overwhelming and has a top speed of 92 mph. However, he manages to get an impressive strikeout percentage of 27.7 and a career walk rate of 7.9. He joins a group of veterans battling for spots in the bullpen including Hembree and Righty Bryan Shaw, as well as Kyle Dowdy, Anthony Gose, DJ Johnson and Nick Sandlin from the 2018 second round.
– –
New Indian face masks for sale: Here, you can purchase Cleveland Indian-themed face covers for coronavirus protection, including a single mask ($ 14.99) and a 3-pack ($ 24.99). All MLB proceeds are donated to charity.
More Indian coverage
It’s been a long time since MLB dealt with sexual harassment – Paul Hoynes
How about a six-man rotation for Indians in 2021? Hey, Hoynsie
Training Camp List from Allen to Zimmer: The Week in Baseball
Indian’s revised spring training plan; open February 28 against Reds
What do Billy Hamilton and Ben Gamel contribute to the outfield mix? Podcast
Subtext users give their versions of lineup, rotation and bullpen for 2021
Can you quickly name the starting line-up for the Indians for the 2021 season?
How do Royals, Twins moves affect Cleveland’s division chances? Podcast
