Dioner

Navarro

Navarro, considered to be New York’s top position prospect, has had a very average season betweeen Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Columbus. As long as the Red Sox are within striking distance of the Yankees for the Eastern Division title, Navarro won’t play much.

He’s made two throwing errors and thrown out only one of eight base stealers in nine games. He going to get a big test as Philadelphia is second in the NL with 74 stolen bases. Jimmy Rollins has 25, Bobby Abreu has 23 and Chase Utley and Kenny Lofton each has 11.

It was also his first extra-base hit in his 52 at-bats. He has just two RBI in 13 games while batting at the bottom of the lineup for the Dodgers, but this was a big one. He’s expected to get Saturday off with Jason Phillips set to catch.

Navarro was signed in February with an invite to spring training. He spent last year in the Atlantic League, and will serve as organizational depth for the 2019 campaign.

Navarro spent the 2018 season in the independent Atlantic League, batting .268/.299/.437 with three home runs and 13 RBI in 78 plate appearances with the Long Island Ducks. The veteran will be organizational depth at catcher for the Indians in 2019. He’s likely ticketed for Triple-A Columbus.

Josh Paul will start in his place and Maddon indicated that Navarro will play nearly every day against right-handed pitchers. This shouldn’t hurt his fantasy value much, because as a catcher he’d need to be rested a couple times a week anyway.

With Russell Martin establishing himself as a regular, Navarro could be traded in July. It’d be a waste of resources for the Dodgers to go forward with both players, so if a deal doesn’t happen in July, it should come in the offseason.

Navarro may end up staying at Triple-A even once he’s ready to come off the disabled list thanks to how well Russell Martin has played.

Navarro started the season as Dodgers’ starting catcher, but Russell Martin has played great behind-the-plate since Navarro went on the disabled list. Navarro will likely remain in Triple-A until Sandy Alomar Jr. needs a trip to the DL to rest his achy body.

Navarro still can’t swing without feeling pain in his injured wrist. Navarro’s replacement, Russ Martin, is likely to remain in the majors when Navarro is activated.