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Avila, Navarro on D-backs radar?
December, 13, 2014
Dec 13
8:22 AM ET
By Doug Mittler | ESPN Insider
Give new Diamondbacks general manager Dave Stewart credit for his candor. Ask most GM?s who they might be seeking on the trade market, and you are greeted with stone silence of the baseball equivalent of a congressional filibuster.
Stewart, by contrast, gave some meaty answers when asked who might be the starting catcher for the D-backs after Miguel Montero was traded to the Cubs for two minor leaguers. Stewart mentioned Alex Avila of the Tigers and Dioner Navarro of the Blue Jays as possible targets, according to the Arizona Republic's Nick Piecoro.
Avila, a career .247 hitter, will earn $5.4 million next season before entering free agency. He coming off an injury-plagued season in which he hit a career-low .218 with a .686 OPS. At the winter meetings, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus told reporters that the catching job will be an open competition between Avila and highly touted prospect James McCann, reports James Schmehl of MLive.com. A trade of Avila would indicate that McCann is ready for the next step, but the Tigers would still like to have a veteran backstop just in case.
Navarro is believed to be available after the Blue Jays signed Russell Martin earlier this offseason.
If the D-backs seek a catcher via free agency, available options include Geovany Soto, David Ross and Nick Hundley.
December, 13, 2014
Dec 13
8:22 AM ET
By Doug Mittler | ESPN Insider
Give new Diamondbacks general manager Dave Stewart credit for his candor. Ask most GM?s who they might be seeking on the trade market, and you are greeted with stone silence of the baseball equivalent of a congressional filibuster.
Stewart, by contrast, gave some meaty answers when asked who might be the starting catcher for the D-backs after Miguel Montero was traded to the Cubs for two minor leaguers. Stewart mentioned Alex Avila of the Tigers and Dioner Navarro of the Blue Jays as possible targets, according to the Arizona Republic's Nick Piecoro.
Avila, a career .247 hitter, will earn $5.4 million next season before entering free agency. He coming off an injury-plagued season in which he hit a career-low .218 with a .686 OPS. At the winter meetings, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus told reporters that the catching job will be an open competition between Avila and highly touted prospect James McCann, reports James Schmehl of MLive.com. A trade of Avila would indicate that McCann is ready for the next step, but the Tigers would still like to have a veteran backstop just in case.
Navarro is believed to be available after the Blue Jays signed Russell Martin earlier this offseason.
If the D-backs seek a catcher via free agency, available options include Geovany Soto, David Ross and Nick Hundley.