Guardians Insider Explains Why Trade Acquisition Was A ‘Steal’

On Sunday, the Cleveland Guardians got an incredible performance from their starting pitcher, Slade Cecconi.

He went to Sutter Health Park, notorious for being a hitter-friendly stadium, and dominated the solid Athletics offense en route to a 3-0 win.

Cecconi only conceded six hits and a walk in the game, with no runs to his name during seven innings.

He struck out just three, but kept the opposition off balance all day and needed just 79 pitches to get through seven.

Cecconi came to Cleveland in the much-criticized Josh Naylor trade, having posted a 6.66 ERA in Arizona last year.

Now, he is sporting a 3.38 ERA in 37.1 frames after missing the first few weeks of the 2025 campaign with a strained oblique.

Guardians Prospective explained why he could end up being a steal for the organization.

“By the end of the season, if Cecconi is still pitching as well as he has in his last four starts, he alone would be a steal for Naylor. Cecconi is under contract through 2030 and is only 25 years old,” he posted on X.

Be the end of the season if Cecconi is still pitching as well as he has his last four starts, he alone would be a steal for Naylor.

Cecconi is under contract through 2030 and is only 25 years old. https://t.co/Z2xbajllu2

— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) June 23, 2025

Guardians fans were mad because they had traded a guy who hit 31 homers and drove in 108 runs for a pitcher with a 6.66 ERA.

Context matters, though.

Cecconi is a promising young arm with top prospect pedigree, solid stuff, and excellent extension.

Naylor, on the other hand, had conditioning issues, and 2025 is a contract year for him.

As Guardians Prospective notes, he alone can be considered a steal, and the Guardians also got a high draft pick from the D-Backs as a sweetener.

The best thing about the deal is the fact that Cecconi has, including 2025, the entire six years of cheap team control available for Cleveland, whereas Naylor had only one.

Essentially, Cleveland focused on the pitcher, his traits and natural talent, rather than last year’s numbers.

The bet is paying off big time.

Now, they have a controllable young pitcher who is shaping up to be a frontline starter.