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Navarro and Martin trade baseball for soccer ball at spring training
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Original Publication Date: February 26, 2015 4:29AM
Publication Updated: January 8, 2025 8:34PM
DUNEDIN, Fla. – There was an impromptu US$155-million pickup game Thursday at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium.
Blue Jays catchers Russell Martin and Dioner Navarro put down their gloves for an orange soccer ball after training, showing off their skills with their feet, chest and head in the outfield. Slugger Jose Bautista also took part briefly, as did non-roster invitee Chris Dickerson.
Canada’s Martin has an $82-million, five-year contract, while Bautista is on five years and $65 million. Navarro is on the final year of an $8-million, two-year deal.
Navarro, a 31-year-old Venezuelan native who lives in Florida, is a soccer fanatic who has supported Barcelona since he was eight.
“I’ve been married for 12 years now and every off-season my wife wants to go for vacation. I want to go to Barcelona and she’s like ‘No, we ain’t going to Barcelona,’” he said with a smile.
“Because she knows if we go to Barcelona, it’s going to be all about Barca,” he added.
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