Yankees Swap Lands a Villain to Fill First Base Void

Yankees Swap Lands a Villain to Fill First Base Void

The rivalry between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians has become one of the most heated in recent MLB history, fueled by both teams’ competitive edge. While the Yankees have generally had the upper hand, there’s no shortage of tension, particularly after the 2022 postseason.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During that series, Guardians first baseman Josh Naylor infamously mocked Gerrit Cole with his “rock the baby” celebration following a home run. In response, Yankees infielder Gleyber Torres mimicked the gesture after New York won the series, intensifying the animosity between the two teams.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Despite this bad blood, the professional nature of both sides could make a potential trade involving Naylor make sense. Chris Kirschner of *The Athletic* recently suggested that Naylor, who will become a free agent after the 2025 season, could be an ideal rental for the Yankees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As his contract winds down, the Guardians might look to move him rather than risk losing him for nothing, especially if they don’t plan to offer him a long-term deal. Unlike other rental candidates like Juan Soto, Naylor would come at a more affordable price due to his less established reputation and lower pedigree.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Naylor remains an appealing option for any team, including the Yankees. Over the past three seasons, he’s consistently been an above-average hitter, capping off 2023 with a career-high 31 home runs. His ability to pull the ball makes him an especially good fit for Yankee Stadium, where the short right-field porch plays to his strengths. Statcast projections suggest that, had Naylor played the entire 2024 season in New York, he could have hit 34 home runs, seven more than the 27 he would have hit at Progressive Field.