Dec. 04--The White Sox have several needs to address before the 2016 season arrives, but they are close to checking one position off their list.
A day after cutting ties with starting catcher Tyler Flowers, the Sox agreed to terms with free-agent catcher Dioner Navarro, pending a physical, a major-league source confirmed Thursday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal first reported the news of a one-year contract.
Navarro, a switch-hitter, is expected to be used in a platoon with left-handed hitting catcher Alex Avila, who signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract last week.
Navarro, a 12-year major-league veteran, including the 2013 season with the Cubs, has a career .255 batting average and .688 OPS, with 71 home runs and 332 RBIs. Against left-handed pitchers, he has hit .270 with a .775 OPS.
He played 54 games for the Blue Jays in 2015 behind starter Russell Martin, hitting .246 with seven doubles, five homers, 20 RBIs and a .682 OPS. His OPS against left-handers was .894.
Navarro and Avila are to replace the 2015 catching tandem of Flowers and Geovany Soto. The Sox declined to tender a contract to Flowers on Wednesday night, and general manager Rick Hahn cited a need to upgrade the offense at catcher. Soto, a free agent, signed with the Angels.
"We're looking to improve the club offensively ... and this move was part of potentially doing that," Hahn said of parting with Flowers on Wednesday night.
The Sox also are working on signing right-hander Jacob Turner, who was not tendered a contract Wednesday so the club could work outside of arbitration constraints.
ckane@tribpub.com
