Blue Jays’ Navarro would prefer to be traded

Toronto Blue Jays catcher Dioner Navarro. (Darren Calabrese/CP)

Toronto Blue Jays catcher Dioner Navarro would prefer to be traded in the wake of the team’s five-year contract with free agent Russell Martin.

An industry source with knowledge of the situation confirmed the news, which was first reported by Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.

While Navarro hasn’t formally asked for a trade, Alex Anthopoulos acknowledged that he won’t be surprised if he ends up making a deal. Rival teams have inquired about Navarro since the Blue Jays signed Martin.

“We’ll try to find a spot for you if it makes sense, but at the same time we’re not just going to give you away,”  Anthopoulos told Navarro. “We’ve had some pretty strong interest in him from the outset.”

Moving Navarro, who has one year and $5 million remaining on his contract, would create additional financial flexibility for the Blue Jays, who expect payroll to increase in 2015.

The switch-hitting 30-year-old batted .274/.317/.395 with 12 home runs for the Blue Jays, appearing in 139 games. He drew positive reviews from Toronto’s pitching staff, and worked particularly well with Mark Buehrle.

The Blue Jays are confident Martin could catch R.A. Dickey’s knuckleball if necessary.

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