Blue Jays' Navarro says Tigers, Diamondbacks have interest in him

Dioner Navarro's wish to leave Toronto may be inching closer to reality. 

At least a pair of teams are reportedly intrigued about acquiring Navarro, who has been open about his desire to be traded from the Blue Jays.

"My agent told me both Arizona and Detroit have interest," Navarro said, according to the Toronto Sun's Bob Elliott.

Navarro, who inked a two-year pact with Toronto ahead of the 2014 season, was supplanted as the team's starting catcher after the Blue Jays signed All-Star Russell Martin to a long-term contract in November. 

The 31-year-old Navarro, who has one year and $5 million remaining on his contract, assumed the majority of the work behind the plate for the third-place Blue Jays a season ago, following up a career 2013 year at the dish by hitting .274/.317/.395 in 139 games. He's currently projected to back up Martin with an opportunity to get playing time at the designated hitter's slot, but he's been frank about his desire to go elsewhere and start. 

He reiterated as much again Monday. 

"I want to play every day," Navarro said. "I don’t want to be a backup."

A year away from free agency, Navarro, who has had durability questions in the past, wants to prove he can handle the vigorous duties of starting every day before he hits the open market again. 

If the Tigers are in fact interested, their desire to acquire him likely stems from the sketchy injury past of catcher Alex Avila. 

The 28-year-old Avila has a history of concussions, making Navarro a potential insurance policy.

Arizona, meanwhile, has career minor-leaguer Tuffy Gosewisch and 21-year-old Oscar Hernandez atop its catching depth chart, so there would appear to be a clear spot for Navarro to get consistent playing time if the two sides could work out a deal. 

Toronto general manger Alex Anthopoulos has said multiple times he would attempt to grant Navarro's wish, but insists he won't move him for the sake of it.