Santana returning to Guards (sources); Josh Naylor traded to D-backs

Santana returning to Guards (sources); Josh Naylor traded to D-backs

12:20 AM UTC

Another staple in the Guardians lineup is on the move, but another one is coming home.

First baseman has been traded to the Diamondbacks in exchange for righty pitcher and Arizona’s 2025 Competitive Balance Round B pick, the team announced on Saturday.

After the trade, the Guardians then signed free-agent first baseman for a one-year, $12 million contract, sources told MLB.com.

TRADE DETAILS
Guardians acquire: RHP Slade Cecconi, Competitive Balance Round B Draft pick
D-backs acquire: 1B Josh Naylor

The trade isn’t overwhelmingly shocking considering Naylor’s name has popped up in trade rumors all offseason. But the Guardians are trying to make sure that 2025 is even more successful than '24. That means the return has to be enough to offset a potential 30-homer bat.

At first, that was up in the air when the team had only added Cecconi. He split last season between Triple-A and the Majors. In 20 games (13 starts) with the D-backs, he pitched to a 6.66 ERA with 64 strikeouts and 17 walks in 77 innings. In Triple-A, he owned a 3.06 ERA in 18 games (five starts), ending the season with 9 2/3 hitless innings.

But moments later, the Guardians added a familiar face in Santana. MLB Trade Rumors projected that Naylor would make $12 million in his last year of arbitration this winter. That money went straight to signing free agent Santana.

Santana is entering his 16th Major League season. Eleven of those will be spent with Cleveland. In his previous 10 seasons with the Guardians, Santana hit .251 with an .818 OPS and 216 home runs. Even though he’ll be 39 years old in April, his power hasn’t waned. In each of the last two seasons with the Twins, Brewers and Pirates, Santana hit more than 20 homers.

Naylor has provided depth in the Guardians’ lineup behind José Ramírez for the last few years. He emerged as an All-Star caliber player in '23 with a standout season, hitting .308 with an .842 OPS. His production wasn’t as consistent in '24, but his threat in the lineup played a huge part in Cleveland’s success. Now that will be up to Santana to fill.

Santana will be able to play first base, alongside Kyle Manzardo, who had a strong second trip to the Majors at the end of last season to show he’s ready for the big stage.