Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Dioner Navarro Coming Back To The Dodgers


The Dodgers have reached an agreement with catcher Dioner Navarro.

From Dodgers.com:
Former All Star and former Dodger Dioner Navarro has agreed to terms to compete with A.J. Ellis as backup to starting catcher Rod Barajas, according to multiple baseball sources, pending passing a physical exam.

Navarro was non-tendered by Tampa Bay last week. The 26-year-old switch-hitter came to the Dodgers from the Yankees in the 2005 three-team trade that sent Shawn Green to Arizona and Randy Johnson to New York.

Navarro opened his rookie season as the Dodgers' starting catcher, but injured his wrist and quickly lost his job to Martin. Halfway through that season, Navarro was traded with Jae Seo to Tampa Bay for Toby Hall and Mark Hendrickson.

Navarro became the starting catcher in Tampa Bay and was an All-Star in 2008 with a career-high .295 average and 54 RBIs, but sagged to .218 in 2009 and fell completely out of favor in 2010, losing playing time to John Jaso and Kelly Shoppach. After playing in 119, 120 and 115 games in 2007-09, Navarro played in only 48 games this year, batting .194 with seven RBIs.

Told he would not be on Tampa Bay's postseason roster for the first round of the playoffs, he left the club and went home, assuring his non-tender. He was in the second year of a two-year, $4.2 million contract.

Now Navarro becomes a low-risk potential long-term replacement to Martin. The short-term replacement is Barajas, signed to a $3.25 million deal as the starting catcher, presumably to team with Ellis, who now must compete with Navarro to stay in the Major Leagues.
Once again, I'm jumping for joy.

2 comments:

  1. I would have rather the Dodgers kept Martin. I guess they have no faith in Ellis. They shhould have never traded Lucas May!

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  2. I would be worried about Russell. Who knows how his hip will hold up.

    Lucas May? Hell, they should have kept Carlos Santana

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