Potential trade chip Parra OK day after hit by pitch

PHOENIX -- The Brewers got a big boost Friday when outfielder Gerardo Parra, one of the team's most valuable Trade Deadline commodities, reported feeling no ill effects from a scary hit by pitch the night before.

Parra was hit directly on the left kneecap by a Zack Godley cutter and stayed on the ground near home plate for several minutes before remaining in the game. He didn't start Friday night, but that was because Arizona started a left-hander, Patrick Corbin, and not because Parra was hurt.

"I'm ready for pinch-hitting or to play defense," Parra said. "Just a little inflammation, but nothing bad. I feel 100 percent."

The Brewers have received varying degrees of interest in Parra from multiple teams, general manager Doug Melvin confirmed Thursday. That came as no surprise, since Parra is a free agent-to-be, a two-time Gold Glove winner and left-handed hitter who entered Friday with Major League Baseball's fifth-highest batting average since April 25, at .341. The four players above him were All-Stars: Paul Goldschmidt, Miguel Cabrera, Jason Kipnis and Bryce Harper.

Asked again about trade rumors on Friday, exactly one week before the July 31 deadline for teams to swap players without exposing them to waivers, Parra maintained his previous stance.

"I don't want to think anything about that, don't want to talk anything about that," Parra said. "The only thing I want to talk about is Milwaukee right now. I can't control those. I'm happy over here."

If he is traded in the next week, at least Parra has experience on his side. The D-backs sent him to the Brewers last July 31 for Minor Leaguers Anthony Banda and Mitch Haniger.

"It's hard the first time, but that's the baseball life," Parra said. "We play today here, and maybe tomorrow, we play for another team."

Brewers manager Craig Counsell indicated Parra would be back in the starting lineup on Saturday.