Confirmed deal : Yankees 3-player mock trade brings playoff rival to New York

 

The New York Yankees need a first baseman, and one of the options that they could pursue might be a person who has bedeviled them in the past. Josh Naylor, whom the Cleveland Guardians could move to create room for rising young stud Kyle Manzardo, who showed tons of promise in the postseason. While the “rocking the baby” moment in Game 4 of the 2022 ALDS soured the opinion Yankees fans held of Naylor, his bat is perfect for the middle of the lineup, one that now lacks star outfielder Juan Soto

 

 

 

A left-handed power bat who would fit Yankee Stadium like a glove, this three-player mock trade could give the Bronx Bombers a perfect first base option for 2025.

 

 

Josh Naylor has become one of the better first basemen in the game over the past three seasons, smashing 68 home runs with a 121 wRC+, providing consistent and reliable production as a middle-of-the-order bat. His high swing rates and electric raw power allow him to hunt fastballs and do damage early in counts, not striking out much and showing off a pretty solid hit tool as well.

 

The Yankees would be getting a great three-hitter who can slot right in between Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, providing a left-handed jolt to break up the towering righties. Defensive Runs Saved has a less favorable view of Naylor, but Outs Above Average and Fielding Run Value consistently grade him out as an above-average defender at first base, which is perfect for what the Yankees are looking for in their infield defense.

 

He’s no superstar, but Josh Naylor is 10th among qualified first basemen in wRC+ and eight in home runs over the past three seasons, and that’s a massive upgrade over what the Yankees had there this past season. As for what the Guardians need, the outfield and rotation are big question marks on their roster, but the Yankees could aid them in that regard.