At first glance, the Orioles’ acquisition of first baseman/outfielder Efren Navarro on Tuesday appeared to be another one of the many deals for cash that occur every offseason and most fans forget about easily.
But the 29-year-old Navarro could find a home with the Orioles. First, he’s a defensive-minded player who can play multiple positions, and that’s how you win a roster spot under manager Buck Showalter. His stats show that he was an exemplary first baseman at both the major and minor league levels.
First base is his best position, but he worked hard over the past two years to become a capable outfielder, and he has done more than that.