Dioner Navarro

2013

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2011

Navarro had a second straight horrible season with the Rays, batting .194 and getting on base at only a .270 clip. These numbers were a far cry from 2008 when he hit .295 and was named an All-Star. After being left off the ALDS postseason roster, Navarro left the team which ended his days as a Ray. He signed on with the Dodgers and will complete for a backup catching position in the spring.

2010

Navarro regressed last season after putting together an All-Star effort in 2008. He had offseason surgery to repair the ulnar nerve in his elbow, which may have played a part in his dismal .583 OPS. The Rays aren't taking any chances this year, bringing in Kelly Shoppach to at least share the catching duties. Navarro is only 26, so a rebound wouldn't be surprising, but the presence of Shoppach significantly hurts his chances.

2009

Navarro broke out to become one of the AL's better catchers in 2008, finally living up to his prospect potential. He'll start 2009 as the Rays' No. 1 backstop, with two concerns being his mild late-season slump (.262 with a .692 OPS after August 1) and the very short offseason he'll have going into 2009 (thanks to a long 2008 postseason run and an expected stint as Venezuela's starting catcher in the WBC).

2008

Navarro actually finished the year much stronger than those numbers indicate, as he hit .294/.344/.493 in August and September. We'll see if that hot finish, and Navarro's great defensive reputation, is enough to keep the Rays from shopping for a catcher in the offseason. Even if it is, Navarro may still have to prove that he, and not Shawn Riggans or John Jaso, is the Rays' catcher of the future.

2007

Navarro came over in a trade from the Dodgers in July and soon showed he's a great defensive catcher and good handler of pitchers. He'll start this season as the Rays' clear top catcher. It's still early in his career, but Navarro has yet to prove he's an effective big league hitter.

2006

Navarro begins the year as the starting catcher, but he's no longer the best catching prospect in the organization. Russell Martin is now the young catcher that the Dodgers are eagerly awaiting. That doesn't mean that Navarro is worthless - his defense is excellent and his command of the strike zone is superb for his age, but there's a legitimate question whether he'll eventually hit for enough power to be adequate at the plate. He'll still only be 22 in 2006, so there's time for him to develop, but Martin's emergence puts more of a sense of urgency on Navarro's timetable.

2005

Navarro becomes the catcher of the future for the Dodgers after an offseason trade. He initially struggled after his midseason promotion to Triple-A Columbus last year with the Yankees, but settled in to hit .296 in August and earn a September call-up. He hasn't shown much power yet, but is ready defensively. A strong fantasy minor league draftee.

2003

The youngest starter in the South Atlantic League last season, the then 18-year old Navarro went .238/.326/.360 in 328 Low-A at-bats while drawing 39 walks. Navarro is also good with the glove and should develop some power as he matures. He compares favorably to Jorge Posada at a similar stage in development, but is at least a few seasons away.