After shedding their long-time beginning first baseman, Christian Walker, to the Houston Astros in free company this previous week, the Arizona Diamondbacks might have discovered their substitute.
The Diamondbacks have reportedly acquired first baseman Josh Naylor from the Cleveland Guardians in alternate for right-handed pitcher Slade Cecconi and a aggressive stability Spherical B draft decide.
Naylor just isn’t fairly the defensive presence that Walker is, however he needs to be a greater than satisfactory substitute on the plate and can be six years youthful.
Walker gained three Gold Gloves for Arizona.
Whereas it’s a little bit of a downgrade because of the defensive play, it’s unlikely the Diamondbacks had been going to discover a higher various on the free-agent market at this level.
Naylor shall be eligible without spending a dime company after this season.
He had develop into an everyday within the Guardians lineup over the previous three seasons, topping the 20-home run mark two occasions (he hit 17 the opposite season), together with a career-high 31 dwelling runs this season.
Cecconi figures to be one other arm for the again finish of Cleveland’s pitching workers, both as a starter or bullpen arm. He appeared in 20 video games throughout the 2024 season, beginning 13 of them.
Cleveland already added to its rotation earlier this month when it acquired Luis Ortiz in a commerce with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
With Naylor gone, meaning Cleveland can anticipate a completely new proper facet of its infield subsequent season after additionally buying and selling second baseman Andres Gimenez this offseason. Gimenez was despatched to Toronto for Spencer Horwitz, who was later traded to Pittsburgh for Oritz.
