Guardians Trade Josh Naylor to Diamondbacks, Sign Carlos Santana
On Saturday, the Cleveland Guardians announced a significant trade involving first baseman Josh Naylor, who has been dealt to the Arizona Diamondbacks. In exchange, the Guardians received right-handed pitcher Slade Cecconi and a 2025 Competitive Balance Round B draft pick. This move marks a notable shift in the Guardians' roster as they prepare for the upcoming seasons.
The trade was not entirely unexpected, as Naylor's name had frequently surfaced in trade discussions throughout the offseason. As the Guardians aim to build a stronger team for 2025, they recognized the need for a substantial return that could compensate for the loss of a player capable of hitting 30 home runs. Initially, the acquisition of Cecconi raised questions, considering his mixed performance. Last season, he posted a 6.66 ERA over 20 appearances, although he did showcase potential with a 3.06 ERA in Triple-A, finishing the season with a commendable stretch of 9 2/3 hitless innings.
Shortly after finalizing the trade, the Guardians moved to sign Carlos Santana, a familiar face to the franchise, agreeing to a one-year, $12 million contract. Santana, entering his 16th Major League season, has spent 11 of those years with Cleveland. In his decade with the Guardians, he accumulated a .251 batting average, .818 OPS, and 216 home runs. Despite approaching 39 years old in April, Santana has demonstrated consistent power, clearing the 20-homer mark in each of the last two seasons with the Minnesota Twins, Milwaukee Brewers, and Pittsburgh Pirates. Following Naylor's departure, Santana will be tasked with fortifying the Guardians' first base position, collaborating with Kyle Manzardo, who showed promise during his recent stint in the majors.