Rey Navarro joins the utility infielder competition

[wildcard]

There were two spots in the O's infield in question when ST began. Jonathan Schoop has asserted his incumbency at 2B with continued great defense and added a element of offense so far this spring. A homer and two doubles has his OPS at 917. The challenge from Everth Cabrera has fallen flat in the first week of games. Its not over but its not a good start for Cabrera.

However, competition for the utility infielder spot intensified yesterday when Rey Navarro slammed a homer to left field. It raised his OPS to 1.089 in the very early going. As Gary Thorne said yesterday "That will get you noticed." He is ticketed for Norfolk but he might not go quietly. Navarro has been known for his defense throughout his minor league career. It has helped him to All-Star appearances in:

2009 in the low A Midwest League

2011 in the advanced A Carolina League

2013 in the AA Texas League

2014 in the AA Southern League

His offense has improved over the last year. Beginning last spring and continuing through the year he has hit for:

271/336/459/794 in the AA Southern League

296/351/409/759 in the AAA International League

310/361/437/798 in the Puerto Rican Winter League

Now 25 years old, he was drafted by Arizona on the 3rd round. Traded to Kansas City and last year became a minor league free agent. He signed with Reds. Dan Duquette liked what he saw well enough to offer him a major league contract. He has three options left. Navarro has played:

445 games at SS

320 games at 2B

98 games at 3B

In his minor league career. 2nd Base is where he has the best fielding percentage.

Ryan Flaherty is the incumbent at the O's Utility Infield position. His versatility is valued by Buck. But he hasn't hit well. Last year he had a 644 OPS in 281 at bats.

So the battle is on over the next three plus weeks. Flaherty, Cabrera or Navarro could step forward and take the Utility role. All three plus Schoop have options. Winner stays and the other two go to AAA.

[Redskins Rick]

There were two spots in the O's infield in question when ST began. Jonathan Schoop has asserted his incumbency at 2B with continued great defense and added a element of offense so far this spring. A homer and two doubles has his OPS at 917. The challenge from Everth Cabrera has fallen flat in the first week of games. Its not over but its not a good start for Cabrera.

However, competition for the utility infielder spot intensified yesterday when Rey Navarro slammed a homer to left field. It raised his OPS to 1.089 in the very early going. As Gary Thorne said yesterday "That will get you noticed." He is ticketed for Norfolk but he might not go quietly. Navarro has been known for his defense throughout his minor league career. It has helped him to All-Star appearances in:

2009 in the low A Midwest League

2011 in the advanced A Carolina League

2013 in the AA Texas League

2014 in the AA Southern League

His offense has improved over the last year. Beginning last spring and continuing through the year he has hit for:

271/336/459/794 in the AA Southern League

296/351/409/759 in the AAA International League

310/361/437/798 in the Puerto Rican Winter League

Now 25 years old, he was drafted by Arizona on the 3rd round. Traded to Kansas City and last year became a minor league free agent. He signed with Reds. Dan Duquette liked what he saw well enough to offer him a major league contract. He has three options left. Navarro has played:

445 games at SS

320 games at 2B

98 games at 3B

In his minor league career. 2nd Base is where he has the best fielding percentage.

Ryan Flaherty is the incumbent at the O's Utility Infield position. His versatility is valued by Buck. But he hasn't hit well. Last year he had a 644 OPS in 281 at bats.

So the battle is on over the next three plus weeks. Flaherty, Cabrera or Navarro could step forward and take the Utility role. All three plus Schoop have options. Winner stays and the other two go to AAA.

Flaherty being the incumbent has the inside track.

Cabrera is working on a ticket to AAA and maybe he can work on things down there, got lots of rust to sort out.

Navarro is making this a two horse race.

[Rene88]

There were two spots in the O's infield in question when ST began. Jonathan Schoop has asserted his incumbency at 2B with continued great defense and added a element of offense so far this spring. A homer and two doubles has his OPS at 917. The challenge from Everth Cabrera has fallen flat in the first week of games. Its not over but its not a good start for Cabrera.

However, competition for the utility infielder spot intensified yesterday when Rey Navarro slammed a homer to left field. It raised his OPS to 1.089 in the very early going. As Gary Thorne said yesterday "That will get you noticed." He is ticketed for Norfolk but he might not go quietly. Navarro has been known for his defense throughout his minor league career. It has helped him to All-Star appearances in:

2009 in the low A Midwest League

2011 in the advanced A Carolina League

2013 in the AA Texas League

2014 in the AA Southern League

His offense has improved over the last year. Beginning last spring and continuing through the year he has hit for:

271/336/459/794 in the AA Southern League

296/351/409/759 in the AAA International League

310/361/437/798 in the Puerto Rican Winter League

Now 25 years old, he was drafted by Arizona on the 3rd round. Traded to Kansas City and last year became a minor league free agent. He signed with Reds. Dan Duquette liked what he saw well enough to offer him a major league contract. He has three options left. Navarro has played:

445 games at SS

320 games at 2B

98 games at 3B

In his minor league career. 2nd Base is where he has the best fielding percentage.

Ryan Flaherty is the incumbent at the O's Utility Infield position. His versatility is valued by Buck. But he hasn't hit well. Last year he had a 644 OPS in 281 at bats.

So the battle is on over the next three plus weeks. Flaherty, Cabrera or Navarro could step forward and take the Utility role. All three plus Schoop have options. Winner stays and the other two go to AAA.

Wildcard, I thought you had him being cut in the first round on your other post:)?

[Aristotelian]

I am pretty sure Dan has a plan and one spring training HR isn't going to change it. That said, we have known all along that Navarro can play and the margins separating him from Flaherty and Cabrera (and for that matter Schoop and Paredes) are thin. They are all flawed players with different strengths and weaknesses. I would be surprised to see Navarro start the year with the O's but I would not be surprised to see him this year.

[Ohfan67]

Cabrera will make the team.

[fearthenoodle]

Cabrera will make the team.

There is very little question of that.

[Can_of_corn]

There is very little question of that.

He has a remaining option.

There is at least some chance he gets the short straw to Norfolk.

[Redskins Rick]

Cabrera will make the team.

doubtful, based on his production.

right now, looking like a AAA roster slot.

[Can_of_corn]

I dunno man. The best thing he's done is draw 3 walks, but he's been a mess on the base paths, and he's got 1 hit.

Plenty of time left, but he needs to get it together quick.

The glove has been iffy as well.

He had a bad first week.

[ShaneDawg85]

Is Navarro the new Francisco Peguero, the next man up that never even got up? Spring training stats don't amount to a whole lot of anything, and in order to make the team he has to leap frog some combination of Schoop, Flaherty, and Cabrera. That seems fairly unlikely.

[Redskins Rick]

Is Navarro the new Francisco Peguero, the next man up that never even got up? Spring training stats don't amount to a whole lot of anything, and in order to make the team he has to leap frog some combination of Schoop, Flaherty, and Cabrera. That seems fairly unlikely.

why is everybody so assured that Cabrera is on the roster come day 2 of the regular season?

[Can_of_corn]

why is everybody so assured that Cabrera is on the roster come day 2 of the regular season?

They are paying him more then Flaherty and Schoop.

[Crazysilver03]

Is Navarro the new Francisco Peguero, the next man up that never even got up? Spring training stats don't amount to a whole lot of anything, and in order to make the team he has to leap frog some combination of Schoop, Flaherty, and Cabrera. That seems fairly unlikely.

Well the difference is Navarro has three option years left and could be kept for a while.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Redskins Rick]

They are paying him more then Flaherty and Schoop.

I think it was Roch, but maybe one of the other beat reporters, said Cabrera's contract wasn't that big, to keep him from going to AAA and being the first guy called, if needed.

[fearthenoodle]

He has a remaining option.

There is at least some chance he gets the short straw to Norfolk.

I'd put it at less than 10%. The Orioles are smart enough not to base the decision on 30 or 40 spring at-bats.