NEW YORK (AP) -- Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco planned to appeal his three-game suspension for making contact with an umpire during an argument.
The rookie will be sidelined for a while anyway because of a concussion.
Mesoraco was placed on the seven-day disabled list for concussions before Wednesday night's game against San Diego. Cincinnati also optioned right-hander Todd Redmond to Triple-A Louisville and called up catcher Dioner Navarro from its top farm club.
Newly acquired reliever Jonathan Broxton, obtained in a trade Tuesday with Kansas City for two minor leaguers, was added to the active roster. Broxton was expected to arrive in Cincinnati just in time for Wednesday night's game.
Mesoraco was injured in a collision with Cameron Maybin near home plate in the second inning of Monday night's 11-5 loss to the Padres. The catcher was later ejected for arguing balls and strikes. Before leaving the field, he poked a finger at plate umpire Chad Fairchild's chest protector and bumped him.
Mesoraco played six innings Tuesday in a 7-6 Reds win before leaving with what was described as heat-related dizziness. He was suspended and fined an undisclosed amount Wednesday by Major League Baseball for making contact with Fairchild.
Once he comes off the DL, Mesoraco will be allowed to play until his appeal is heard. He decided to challenge the penalty after speaking with general manager Walt Jocketty and manager Dusty Baker.
"They'll look at my side. They'll look at the umpire's side. I'll state my case, and we'll see what happens," Mesoraco said. "Whatever happens, happens. I just want to do the least amount to hurt the team."
His goal is to avoid missing games.
"I don't care what they fine me," he said.
Mesoraco said he was trying to stick up for his pitchers Monday.
"We weren't getting many calls, and I want to earn the respect of the players. I don't need the umpires to like me. I'm trying to earn respect in the clubhouse," he said.
Mike Leake, who started the game for Cincinnati, said he appreciated Mesoraco's efforts.
"It's always good when somebody sticks up for others," Leake said. "It's always nice when a catcher sticks up for his pitchers."
Baker, however, wishes Mesoraco had tried a more subtle approach.
"Stick up, not stick out," the manager said, extending his right arm in a mime of Mesoraco's actions. "It's a tough situation for him. He's young. We've all been there."
Mesoraco was batting .221 with five homers and 14 RBIs in 46 games for the NL Central leaders. His punishment was handed out by Joe Garagiola Jr., senior vice president of standards and on-field operations for MLB.
Redmond was recalled Tuesday from Louisville when left-hander Bill Bray went on the 15-day disabled list with back problems. Redmond has been called up to the majors three times this season but is yet to make his big league debut. He came up once with Atlanta for three days and twice for one-day stints with the Reds, who acquired him for infielder Paul Janish on July 14.
Navarro, signed in January by the Reds as a minor league free agent, has spent the year at Louisville, where he was a midseason All-Star in the International League. He was hitting .330 with four home runs and 27 RBIs in 57 games with the Bats.
