The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired All-Star first baseman Josh Naylor from the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday in exchange for right-handed pitcher Slade Cecconi.
Cleveland will also receive Arizona’s 2025 Competitive Balance Round B draft pick. Shortly after the trade was announced, the Guardians also signed veteran first baseman Carlos Santana to a one-year, $12 million deal, according to multiple reports.
Naylor made his first All-Star team last season, which he finished with 31 home runs and 108 RBIs, both career-highs, in 152 games. He will fill the void created by the departure of Christian Walker, who reportedly agreed to a three-year, $60 million free-agent deal with the Houston Astros on Friday.
Naylor, 27, was originally a first-round draft pick by the Miami Marlins in 2015. In 598 games through six seasons, he has belted 84 homers to go with 343 RBIs, a .444 slugging percentage and a .767 OPS.
Cecconi, 25, posted a 6.66 ERA in 20 appearances, including 13 starts, with Arizona last season. He also posted a 3.06 ERA in 18 games with five starts for Class AAA Reno in 2024.
The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder was the Diamondbacks’ Competitive Balance Round A selection (33rd overall) in 2020 out of the University of Miami. In three minor-league seasons, Cecconi has a 20-19 record with a 4.73 ERA.
Santana, 38, has played 10 of his 15 major league seasons with Cleveland. He owns a career .242 batting average with 324 home runs in 7,400 at-bats.
Santana played in 150 games for Minnesota last season, batting .238 with 23 homers and 71 RBIs.
–Field Level Media
