The Cleveland Guardians likely decided they were going to trade first baseman Josh Naylor during the offseason a long time ago.
They had three options: trade him, retain him for one more year, or extend his contract.
That last one was probably never in the cards. Naylor is a true slugger and a solid run-producer, but Cleveland traditionally doesn’t extend corner infielders with no defensive or baserunning value.
Retaining him would have given them a solid middle-of-the-order bat but at the expense of defense and athleticism, not to mention the fact it was going to be for one year only.
Trading him seemed like his fate all along, and he’s now with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
To replace him, the Guardians brought back Carlos Santana, who is a slightly worse hitter but a much better defender.
Santana is a Gold Glove winner, and he showed why with a fantastic play in Cactus League action.
“Cleveland Guardians (1B) Carlos Santana with an outstanding play on defense Tuesday against the [Los Angeles] Angels. Santana finished tied for 2nd in defensive runs saved (8) in all MLB, taking home a Gold Glove in 2024. Josh Naylor finished the season with (-6) defensive runs saved last year,” Guardians Prospective wrote on X.
Cleveland #Guardians (1B) Carlos Santana with an outstanding play on defense Tuesday against the Angels.
Santana finished tied for 2nd in defensive runs saved (8) in all MLB taking home a gold glove in 2024.
Josh Naylor finished the season with (-6) defensive runs saved last… pic.twitter.com/ppyUjofRAP
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) March 5, 2025
The difference in defensive work between Santana and Naylor is night and day.
Cleveland had also grown concerned about Naylor’s conditioning issues, whereas Santana looks as nimble as ever as he approaches 39 years old.
Despite Naylor’s edge as a hitter last year (118 wRC+ to Santana’s 114), the veteran had 3.0 fWAR to Naylor’s 2.3.
That’s more proof of the huge fielding gap between the two.
NEXT: Guardians Insider Details Potential Lineup Concerns
