Unlikely trade partner has explored possibility of acquiring 2 Guardians players

It was just a few days ago that a report surfaced regarding the Cleveland Guardians and their willingness to listen to trade offers on Josh Naylor and Lane Thomas. This should not have taken anyone by surprise, as both players are impending free agents, and this follows a long-established pattern of how the Guardians operate. There is one surprising development, however, with one team that has explored the possibility of trading for either Naylor or Thomas.

Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer has reported that the Cincinnati Reds have "kicked the tires" on making a deal with the Guardians. Wittenmyer states his belief that the relationship between Naylor, the Guardians, and new Reds manager Terry Francona is somewhat of a starting point for a potential deal but does not really think there is a fit. The combination of Cincinnati's budget, the projected salaries of Naylor and Thomas, and what it would cost to acquire them would make it difficult for the Reds to actually swing a deal.

The Reds looking to make somewhat of a splash with Francona as their new manager is not a shocking development, and interestingly enough, it would follow the same method of operation that Cleveland used when he came to manage back in 2013, with the signings of Michael Bourn and Nick Swisher. Using this same tactic would be a great way to kick off his tenure in Cincinnati, and bringing in a player he is familiar with (Naylor) would help his efforts of installing a culture of winning.

From Cleveland's perspective, the Reds just are not a good trade partner when it comes to adding what they need to be successful in 2025. The Guardians need help in their outfield and starting rotation, and it does not seem likely that a trade with Cincinnati would provide an adequate solution. It would be in Cleveland's best interest to contact other teams to see if they can find a better trade partner that would be a better fit when it comes to improving their major league roster.