Guardians parlay Bo Naylor advantage into trade with Brewers for intriguing reliever, OF

The Baltimore Orioles overpaying for former Detroit Tigers catcher Jake Rogers was a sign that the Cleveland Guardians could make out well in a trade of Bo Naylor. Sure enough, the Guardians found a suitor as they shipped the former first-round pick to the Milwaukee Brewers.

The full details of the trade include the Guardians sending Naylor and relief pitcher Codi Heuer to the Brewers for right-handed relief pitcher Craig Yoho and outfielder Blake Perkins.

Guardians trade Bo Naylor to the Milwaukee Brewers to kickstart trade deadline activity

Since the trade for Patrick Bailey earlier this season, the writing had been on the wall regarding Naylor's future in Cleveland. Given the uptick in teams looking for a catcher ahead of Monday's trade deadline, it seemed likely that the Guardians would be able to find a suitor for Naylor.

After a promising 2023 season, Naylor had never been able to put it together offensively. Now, in his place, the Guardians have a pair of upside plays in Yoho and Perkins.

Perkins is former second-round pick of the Washington Nationals, and should add some speed to the Guardians bench. It's hard to imagine Perkins getting regular plate appearances, considering he boasts an OPS of .636 across his first four seasons int he majors. That said, as former second-round pick and higly-touted prospects, it's easy to see why the Guardians made this upside play. He's under control through the 2029 season, and still has two minor-league options.

The Brewers have become a pitching factor in recent years, so it's never a bad thing to pluck from them when given the chance. Yoho turned heads with Milwaukee's Triple-A affiliate last season, striking out over 35% of the hitters he's faced. In 15 appearances with the Brewers this season, the 26-year-old is sporting an ERA of 3.15 with underlying metrics that support his success.

This was the best-case scenario when considering what type of return the Guardians could get for Naylor. Yoho is a pre-arbitration pitcher who could become a staple in the bullpen for years to come, while Perkins adds some needed depth in the outfield. It's hard to complain about this deal, assuming the stage is set for more deals before Monday.

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