Tampa Bay Rays former catcher Dioner Navarro joins Long Island Ducks
After taking a year and a half off from baseball, former Tampa Bay Rays All Star Dioner Navarro is back, having signed with the Long Island Ducks.
Former Tampa Bay Rays catcher Dioner Navarro had been a mainstay in the majors, a 13 year veteran who had bounced around from team to team. He was a solid veteran with a bit of pop and a strong throwing arm. A former All Star, Navarro was the type of catcher provided a contending ballclub with the type of veteran presence that was required behind the plate.
However, for the past year and a half, baseball has been the furthest thing from his mind. Instead, he left the game behind, using that time to care for his wife, who was battling a serious medical issue. Understandably, his career was placed on hold as he attended to his family.
Now, his wife’s medical problems have stabilized to the point where Navarro can make a comeback. He is taking that first step towards trying to return to the majors, having signed a contract with the Long Island Ducks, and will start playing again at the end of July.
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The journeyman catcher has had some solid years over his career. An All Star in 2008, Navarro was one of the breakout players on a surprising Rays team that not only had its first winning season in franchise history, but made the World Series. That season, he produced a solid .295/.349/.407 batting line, hitting seven homers and a career best 27 doubles.
While he never quite reached that level of production again, Navarro settled in to a respectable career. He has a lifetime .250/.309/.370 batting line, with 77 homers and 142 doubles. Defensively, Navarro has been respectable as well, a virtually league average catcher in almost every possible metric. Navarro has become that backup catcher that, if he needs to start for an extended period, a team can feel comfortable with.
Should be perform well in Long Island for the rest of the 2018 campaign, it would not be a surprise to see Navarro get a contract in the coming year. Although he would be 35 years old at that point, he still has the type of profile that teams look for in a backstop, a solid veteran who has been through the playoff battles before.
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Former Tampa Bay Rays All Star Dioner Navarro is getting ready to resume his career. With a strong showing in Long Island, he could return to a major league park in the coming year.