Diamondbacks acquire Canadian 1st baseman Josh Naylor from Guardians

The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired all-star first baseman Josh Naylor from the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday for right-handed pitcher Slade Cecconi.

Cleveland will also receive Arizona's 2025 competitive balance round B draft pick. Shortly after the trade was announced, the Guardians also signed veteran first baseman Carlos Santana to a one-year, $12 million US deal, according to multiple reports.

Naylor made his first all-star team last season, which he finished with 31 home runs and 108 runs batted in, both career-highs, in 152 games. He will fill the void created by the departure of Christian Walker, who reportedly agreed to a three-year, $60 million free-agent deal with the Houston Astros on Friday.

Naylor, 27, was originally a first-round draft pick by the Miami Marlins in 2015. In 598 games through six seasons, he has belted 84 homers to go with 343 RBI, a .444 slugging percentage and a .767 on-base-plus slugging percentage.

Cecconi, 25, posted a 6.66 ERA in 20 appearances, including 13 starts, with Arizona last season. He also posted a 3.06 ERA in 18 games with five starts for Class AAA Reno in 2024.

The six-foot-four, 220-pounder was the Diamondbacks' competitive balance round A selection (33rd overall) in 2020 out of the University of Miami. In three minor-league seasons, Cecconi has a 20-19 record with a 4.73 ERA.

Santana, 38, has played 10 of his 15 major league seasons with Cleveland. He owns a career .242 batting average with 324 home runs in 7,400 at-bats.

Santana played in 150 games for Minnesota last season, batting .238 with 23 homers and 71 RBI

Veteran first baseman and former National League MVP Paul Goldschmidt is set to sign a one-year deal worth $12.5 million US with the New York Yankees, multiple