Guardians make bizarre first base swap with trade and subsequent signing

The rumors of a potential trade of Cleveland Guardians first baseman Josh Naylor were true after all. Cleveland has agreed to terms on a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks for Naylor, receiving right-handed pitcher Slade Cecconi and a competitive balance pick in return.

Full trade, per ESPN sources:

Arizona acquires: 1B Josh Naylor

Cleveland acquires: RHP Slade Cecconi and a competitive balance Round B draft pick
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 21, 2024

Trading Naylor is not a surprise, considering that his name has appeared multiple times this winter as someone who could be acquired. Naylor is one year away from free agency and this usually means the Guardians will look to trade someone with this distinction if they are unable to agree on an extension.

The return for Naylor is very underwhelming. Cecconi has a 6.06 ERA, 1.346 WHIP, and 7.3 strikeouts per nine innings in 27 major league appearances (17 starts). Things were not much better in the minors, compiling a 4.73 ERA, 1.284 WHIP, and 9.3 strikeouts per nine in 79 appearances (65 starts). It just seems like if they were actually going to trade Naylor, they would have made sure they got something a lot better than this.

Cleveland did not hesitate to sign Naylor's replacement

With Naylor now in Arizona, the Guardians would need to find his replacement and they happened to sign a familiar face to take his place. Carlos Santana has agreed to a one-year deal worth $12 million for what will be his third stint in Cleveland.

First baseman Carlos Santana and the Cleveland Guardians are in agreement on a one-year, $12 million contract, pending physical, sources tell ESPN. The Guardians traded Josh Naylor, and now they bring the 38-year-old Santana back for his third stint with the organization.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 21, 2024

Santana slashed .238/.328/.420 with 26 doubles and 23 home runs in 150 games for the Minnesota Twins last season. The 38-year-old switch-hitter continues to be a productive player in the twilight of his career, averaging 25 doubles and 23 seasons over the past four seasons.

This series of events that took place on Saturday night is quite puzzling. Trading away one of their best players for an underwhelming return while taking almost what Naylor was projected to make through arbitration( $14.2 million per Spotrac) and signing Santana at this stage of his career certainly is a choice. There is no guarantee Santana's late-career renaissance continues, and if this is the year Father Time catches up to him, it could be a long season on the corner of Carnegie and Ontario.

Cleveland did not hesitate to sign Naylor's replacement

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