The Cleveland Guardians decided to trade first baseman Josh Naylor back in the offseason.
They weren’t going to extend him and decided to get something in return for him.
To replace him, Cleveland went out and signed an old friend with a long track record of success in the city: Carlos Santana.
Santana, however, is 39.
Fans criticized the decision to trade Naylor and replace him with someone pushing 40.
After the first month of the season, Naylor was predictably raking while Santana, a notoriously slow starter, was still getting up to speed and finding his best version.
Per Guardians podcast host and writer @jeffMLBdraft, Santana has surpassed Naylor in total home runs with Wednesday’s power outburst.
“Just for the record thanks to the 2 home runs today, Carlos Santana has more HRs than Josh Naylor. Naylor in the middle of an 81 wRC+ for May, Santana 125,” he posted on X.
Just for the record thanks to the 2 home runs today, Carlos Santana has more HRs than Josh Naylor. Naylor in the middle of a 81 wRC+ for May, Santana 125
— Jeffmlbdraft (@jeffMLBdraft) May 22, 2025
Santana hit a homer early in the afternoon, in the first game of a doubleheader, and another one in the nightcap.
He now has six, against Naylor’s five.
The season is still young, but this fact notes two realities: Santana is starting to heat up, and Naylor has had issues translating his power into home runs this year.
Santana’s May wRC+ of 125 is also considerably better than Naylor’s 81.
At 119, the Arizona Diamondbacks’ slugger is still beating Santana’s 103, but the gap is becoming smaller by the day.
If recent trends are any indication, the veteran might leapfrog the former Guardian in a matter of days.
Baseball is, however, unpredictable by nature, so there are no assurances besides the fact that the Guardians didn’t do so badly with their offseason decision at first base.
NEXT: Guardians Top Prospect Activated From Injured List
