Parra to 15-day DL; Bailey shifted to 60-day
Reliever hampered by strained neck, while team mulls surgery for starter
CINCINNATI -- To make room on the 25-man roster for the callup of pitcher Michael Lorenzen from Triple-A Louisville to start for the Reds on Wednesday, Manny Parra was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained neck. To clear a 40-man roster spot for Lorenzen, pitcher Homer Bailey was transferred to the 60-day DL.
Bailey, who went on the 15-day DL on Monday with a right elbow sprain, is still deciding whether to have surgery. But that choice seems to be coming soon.
"We haven't made a decision on what's going to happen or which route we're going to take, as far as getting him back on the mound," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "I don't think we're going to be talking about this in a week or two weeks and still have everything up in the air. A decision will need to be made so we can focus on that option."
The Parra DL move is retroactive to Friday, a day after he allowed an unearned run on two hits in one inning vs. Milwaukee. There wasn't a specific pitch or incident that caused his neck to start hurting.
"It was just wake up, turn my head a certain way and feel a catch all of a sudden," Parra said. "Maybe it was from sleeping."
Parra, who endured some back and neck issues last season, is optimistic he will resume pitching soon. He will not be traveling with the club during at least the upcoming four-game series in Atlanta.
"It comes and goes. Hopefully with some work and getting on a regimen, I'll be able to prevent it from happening," said Parra, who can be activated May 9. "I don't expect it to be any longer than it has to. I'm feeling a lot better today, but we have to make sure we have enough arms."
The Reds called up right-handed reliever Carlos Contreras on Monday to take Bailey's spot on the roster. Having Contreras keeps the bullpen from being short-handed.
"I think it just made sense to put [Parra] on the DL and get him right, leave him here, get treatment and when he's ready to start throwing, he can rejoin us and get back in touch with his pitching," Price said.