MLB’s first base market is moving rapidly, and every move seems to involve the Diamondbacks in some way.
After Christian Walker left the Diamondbacks to join the Astros on Friday and former Diamondbacks star Paul Goldschmidt signed with the Yankees on Saturday, Arizona finally made a move of its own — a deal with the Guardians for slugger Josh Naylor.
Naylor was one of Cleveland’s top bats between 2023 and 2024, but he was on the trade block with only one year remaining on his contract. Despite a quiet winter to this point, the Diamondbacks pounced on the opportunity to add his bat.
Here are the details of the Diamondbacks’ trade for Naylor, including Cleveland’s return.
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Josh Naylor trade details
Diamondbacks receive:
Guardians receive:
- P Slade Cecconi
- Competitive Balance Round B pick
The Diamondbacks traded pitcher Slade Cecconi and a Competitive Balance Round B draft pick to the Guardians for Naylor. The New York Post’s Jon Heyman first reported the deal.
The 25-year-old Cecconi is a true project for the Guardians, as he posted a dismal 6.66 ERA over 77 innings at the MLB level in 2024, serving as both a starter and reliever. The former first-round pick was much better in triple-A, recording a 3.06 ERA and 10.3 K/9 rate, though he had a rough minor-league season in 2023.
Competitive Balance Round B is sandwiched between the second and third rounds of July’s MLB Draft. Competitive balance picks, given to teams at a financial disadvantage, are the only tradeable picks in the draft.
Naylor was an All-Star in 2024, batting .243 with 31 home runs, 108 RBI and a .776 OPS. He was more productive in 2023, when he hit .308 with an .842 OPS over 121 games. While on-base ability and defense are often issues for Naylor, his power could replicate what Walker gave the Diamondbacks’ lineup.
Who will replace Naylor at first base in Cleveland? Fans quickly learned the answer when the Guardians agreed to a one-year, $12 million deal with Carlos Santana, as reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Santana is returning to Cleveland for a third stint with the team.
