DUNEDIN, Fla. – The Toronto Blue Jays are open to trading Dioner Navarro for a return that helps now or in the future as long as the catcher ends up in an everyday role and there’s sufficient value in return.
General manager Alex Anthopoulos said Tuesday there’s no reason to deal him otherwise, since moving him to another team that will only give him a part-time role doesn’t alter his situation.
A deal to this point hasn’t happened because interested clubs either couldn’t provide Navarro with enough playing time, or didn’t offer enough to satisfy the Blue Jays, who are still looking for a partner.
“I don’t know that that everyday job is lined up right now for various reasons, but the landscape can change, guys get hurt, guys don’t perform, things can change fast,” said Anthopoulos. “We could do something at the end of spring training, we could do something in the first month of the season, we could do something in the middle of the year or it may not occur at all, you just don’t know.
“He’s too good a player, and too valuable a player, that I think something will present itself at some point.”
Navarro said Monday that his hope is still to be traded, but he will do his best to help the Blue Jays as long as he remains with the club.
Anthopoulos said he understands his player’s reaction and would be worried if he was content to be a backup.
The thinking has been that the Blue Jays were seeking help for this season in return for Navarro, although Anthopoulos cited the use of Anthony Gose to acquire second base prospect Devon Travis as the kind of deal that also might make sense.
“I don’t know that we’re locked in so much (in getting help) for the 2015 club. A good deal is a good deal, and if we get good value back then something else could occur. That hasn’t really been the hangup, per se,” he said. “If he’s being evaluated as an everyday player, we’re going to be able to make a deal pretty fast because we’ll get fair value and it will come together quick.”
Navarro is due to earn $5 million in 2015 before he is eligible for free agency, making him an easy short-term fit for a team in need.
“We think Dioner is valued well, especially when you look at some of the other contracts signed and when you look at some of the current free agents that have signed contracts,” said Anthopoulos. “Dioner (is) on a one-year deal, switch-hitter, contact bat, as good a game-caller as we’ve had since I’ve been here, and I think everyone will tell you that.”
