Yankees' future catcher now wears Devil Rays uniform
By MARC TOPKIN
Published July 9, 2006
ST. PETERSBURG - The way it was supposed to work, Dioner Navarro by now would be getting ready to replace Jorge Posada as the Yankees' starting catcher. Some backup duty this season then maybe take over as the primary starter in 2007.
But that was before the Yankees gave up Navarro in a January 2005 deal to get Randy Johnson from the Diamondbacks, who then flipped him to the Dodgers.
And before the Dodgers made Navarro their starter midway through last season then when he was hurt in May gave the job to rookie Russell Martin and traded Navarro last month to the Devil Rays.
Posada, who has remained the Yankees starter, said he still expects to see good things from Navarro.
"He has a lot of great tools," Posada said. "He's a great hitter. I think he's going to hit .300. He was working on his throwing mechanics, but he has a good arm. He's a very nice kid.
He's gone through a lot. Let him develop and see what happens. The tools are there."
HAPPY HOMECOMING: Tarpon Springs High product Kris Wilson started 19 games for the Royals and pitched in 71 others from 2000-03. But his start today will be his first in nearly three full years, and it will be his first in Yankees pinstripes, which makes it even more special.
"There's a mystique about this organization," Wilson said. "I was very honored to wear the Royals uniform and pleased with everything that happened with that organization. But when you put the Yankee uniform on, you feel a little bit different."
Wilson was called up from Triple A last week and said his phone started ringing with increasing frequency once it became clear he would start today.
Though he described previous visits to the Trop as "mayhem" because he'd leave tickets for 50 or more friends and relatives, he plans to limit his official guest list to about 20 today. But it's not like he minds the hassle.
"Trust me," he said, "I would take it any day of the week to have this opportunity."
MOVING UP: Yankees manager Joe Torre won his 1,926th game, tying Casey Stengel for 10th all-time. ... The Yankees improved to a season-high 15 games over . 500. ... Bernie Williams improved his average at Tropicana Field to .380 (82-for-216). ... Right-handed hitting outfielder Kevin Thompson was called up with reliever T.J. Beam sent down.