The lack of catching depth on the Toronto Blue Jays roster has long been considered the club's Achilles heel as it continues to eyeball a second consecutive playoff berth.
That is no longer the case with the news Friday night that the Blue Jays have reacquired Dioner Navarro, who was with the team in 2014 and 2015, in a trade with the Chicago White Sox.
The development was announced just as the first pitch was about to be delivered in Toronto's game against the Minnesota Twins at Rogers Centre.
"We just felt like any way we could get incrementally better we'll look to do it," Toronto general manager Ross Atkins said about the thinking behind the trade. "And then we added experience and the time that he has with this team was a benefit. He'll fit right in with the clubhouse."
Atkins said he had spoken to Navarro and he was asked how the player felt about returning to Toronto.
"He was happy, he was excited," Atkins said. "I could see the smile through the phone."
In order to land the 32-year-old switch-hitting catching veteran, Navarro first had to pass through waivers.
When there were no other takers the deal was on and the Blue Jays sent minor-league left-handed pitcher Colton Turner in exchange.
"I think when we made the [coaching] staff aware that he would be joining us, they were extremely excited about him, not just what he means as a catcher, but just as an over all teammate," Atkins said.
Navarro will be eligible to play in the post-season should the Blue Jays get that far.
Turner, 25, is a combined 3-1 with a 1.33 earned-run average in 44 relief appearances at three levels in the minor leagues, including Double A in New Hampshire.
Navarro, a 13-year major-leaguer, has not been overwhelming offensively this season, posting a .210 batting average with six home runs while driving in 32 runs in 85 games.
Those are not the kind of numbers that usually attract attention from teams involved in a hot and heavy pennant race heading into the final month of the season, such as the Jays.
But Atkins said the Blue Jays believe Navarro's mojo will be revitalized leaving the White Sox, who have tumbled out of the race in the AL Central, to join a team battling for first in the AL East.
Atkins said that Navarro has a solid track record and that his comfort level coming back to a team he knows so well will also be an added benefit.
"Him coming into this environment [will help]," Atkins said. "Obviously Chicago was a very good environment at the start of the season, but this should be a boost of energy for him coming into a contender."
Navarro, who became a free agent at the end of last season and was yearning for more significant playing time, signed a one-year, $4-million (U.S.) contract to join the White Sox.
In two seasons with the Blue Jays, he recorded a .267 average with 17 home runs and 89 RBIs over 193 games, including a career high 34 extra-base hits in 2014. Last year Navarro hit .246 in 54 games.
While not spectacular behind the plate, Navarro is sound defensively.
He is like cozy a old armchair when he catches, presenting an inviting target that pitchers, Marco Estrada especially, loved throwing to.
Russell Martin will remain Toronto's No. 1 catcher with Josh Thole presumably hanging around as the personal receiver for knuckleballer R.A. Dickey when he takes the mound every fifth day or so.
If that's the case, the Blue Jays will run with three catchers until the end of the season.
With Thole hitting a dismal .156 in limited playing time this year, Navarro's arrival will provide Toronto manager John Gibbons with another decent bat he can look to.
"Obviously Russell Martin is a very good catcher and hard to take out of the lineup," Atkins said. "But I think [Navarro] just adds depth and another resource for Gibby to use."
Atkins said he did not expect Navarro to join the Blue Jays until Monday in Baltimore, where Toronto will begin an important divisional series against the Orioles after the weekend set against the Twins.
A corresponding roster move will be made then to make room for Navarro on the 25-man roster.