Blue Jays catcher Dioner Navarro is starting a rehab assignment at Triple-A Buffalo, John Lott of the National Post reports on Twitter. The club will have some roster decisions to make when he’s ready to return, particularly with Jose Bautista still limited to DH duties. Navarro has long seemed like a trade candidate, of course, and he could be the most appealing available receiver now that Welington Castillo has changed hands.
Here’s more from the American League:
- Today, the Athletics finally welcome back closer Sean Doolittle after a prolonged DL stint to open the year, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Doolittle says he is not concerned that he was only just able to crack 90 mph with his fastball, saying that he still believes that hitters are having trouble picking up the pitch. Of course, his velocity has been trending upward and he will have a long leash as he looks to regain his outstanding form from a year ago. Doolittle, whose return will be most welcome for a struggling A’s pen, is playing in the second year of the $10.5MM extension he inked early in the 2014 season.
- Josh Hamilton’s return to the Rangers will not move Rule 5 pick Delino DeShields Jr. out of the regular playing time rotation, manager Jeff Banister tells Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “This is the first real challenge in the middle of a positive performance,” said Banister. “I’ve thought about that. We’re going to continue to have Delino engaged, as long as he’s playing well, in as many games was we can.” The 22-year-old has hit an impressive .278/.394/.392 over his first 94 big league plate appearances, adding 11 steals in the process. Banister rejected the idea of moving DeShields to second, at least at this point, indicating that the’ll likely share time in center with Leonys Martin while also spelling Hamilton and Shin-soo Choo in the corners. Regardless of when and how he plays, it seems that Texas has every intention of keeping DeShields on the active roster to secure his rights from the Astros for the future.
Unless Martin gets hurt, I can’t see the Jays not dumping Navarro before the deadline. Very serviceable depth until then but if this team does get back into the thick of things they could probably use that prorated $2.5M on someone in a trade.
Welcome back Sean! Lets go Oakland!!!
DeShield’s should start in Center….
DeShields has provided the spark for this team. His speed is sensational. Martin however is a tremendous defensive CF. Incredible arm and accuracy. Now, if only he can get untracked at the plate. I would like to see DeShields at 2B but the Bannister and the staff knows better than I do about his defensive abilities.
I’m glad he found a home. Every position he could play is already taken care of in Houston… but his speed would be great here!
Oakland just replaced Craig Gentry and Angel Castro with two All-Stars. Pomeranz might return to the bullpen, where he was sensational. There’s still plenty of season left for them to turn it around!