Cleveland Guardians first baseman Josh Naylor is the latest target for the Chicago Cubs front office. No rumor, large or small, is overlooked and the Cubs are looking at some interesting possibilities. Houston Astros’ hard-hitting right fielder Kyle Tucker is among the names the Cubs have reportedly been making waves about.
The front office is struggling to find the right mixture of talent and depth while being mindful of its spending. Other big-market teams are handing out large, multiyear contracts to top players, making it increasingly difficult in today’s league.
Nevertheless, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer and general manager Carter Hawkins are looking to persevere with their mid-market approach to the offseason. Josh Naylor is the latest target in the search for offensive talent and defensive depth. Naylor is coming off an All-Star 2024 season that saw him improve overall at the plate while smashing 31 home runs and 108 RBI in 563 plate appearances.
But questions remain as to how the Cubs would use the left-hitting slugger and which players make the most sense to the Guardians in a potential trade with the Cubs.
Cubs Consider Trade Pursuit of Josh Naylor
It should come as no surprise that the Guardians would want to hang on to their young All-Star first baseman. Naylor, 27, slashed .243/.320/.456 with a 118 wRC-plus and 2.3 fWAR last season. The Cubs’ perspective hasn’t changed much since last offseason when they also expressed interest in the former first-round pick.
The Cubs solved first base last season when Michael Busch took over the position and performed well above average. The decision by Cody Bellinger to remain in a Cubs uniform next year further complicates matters. Bellinger split time between right field and first base in 2024.
The front office is also navigating the desires of their original right field cast member, Seiya Suzuki, who has said he prefers not to be relegated to the designated hitter role. Suzuki didn’t perform well on defense and Cubs’ skipper Craig Counsell rightly replaced him with Bellinger. Still, a trade for Suzuki might make sense for both teams.
Suzuki would have to agree to the deal since his contract includes a no-trade clause. It could be an attractive option for him given Cleveland’s perennial postseason appearances. The Guardians would get a right fielder who is looking to prove himself as well as one of the best overall hitters in baseball. The Guardians would absorb the remaining $36 million for Suzuki to have a solution in right field for the next two seasons.
Naylor is in the final year of a $14 million deal and will become a free agent next season. His market value, currently at $20 million, will only increase if he performs anything like he did in 2024.
Main Photo: © David Richard-Imagn Images
