Guardians slugger named as possible trade candidate

With the high amount of activity that comes after the baseball season has concluded, there are certain teams that are expected to be more active in the trade market than others. Given the previous history and expected operating procedure of the Cleveland Guardians, it is no surprise to see Josh Naylor identified as a potential trade candidate.

Appearing on MLB Trade Rumors, Naylor being mentioned as someone who could be traded is not exactly breaking news to anyone who is familiar with the way the Guardians organization has done business. On the surface, Naylor falls in line with the likes of Francisco Lindor, Corey Kluber, and Jose Ramirez until the team decided to extend him instead of trading him. But unlike those players mentioned, Naylor does not possess their star power, and that could negatively impact the Guardians' return on what they could receive on the trade market.

Has Naylor showcased some traits that have shown immense promise? Sure, but he has also proven to be someone with a large amount of variance in his play. From an organizational standpoint, gambling on someone who has been the antithesis of consistency would be a decision that very few would endorse. However, when evaluating the current alternatives in Cleveland, Naylor is far superior and it is not particularly close.

The decision-making process when it comes to Naylor goes far beyond the surface reasons that most expect. Sure, the organization's stance on players with Naylor's description will play a factor but knowing that he can marry a high average with power should alter the way the Guardians approach this particular situation.