MLB Trade Rumors: Red Sox Among ‘Best Fits’ For All-Star Slugger

If Craig Breslow wants to trade for Diamondbacks first baseman Josh Naylor, the Red Sox’s chief baseball officer likely won’t be the only one calling Arizona.

Boston is one of several “best fits” for the 28-year-old slugger, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel.

The other teams on that list are the Seattle Mariners, San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers.

“Naylor is batting over .300 this year as a lefty-hitting first baseman in a contract year on pace for about 20 homers,” Passan and McDaniel wrote Tuesday. “Naylor faces left-handed pitchers more often than the next player on the list but hasn’t been particularly good at it. His on-base skills and lack of strikeouts make him an especially attractive acquisition candidate for postseason contenders.”

The duo put the chances of a Naylor trade before the July 31 deadline at 30%. It all depends on whether the Diamondbacks are buyers or sellers. Arizona (41-38) is in fourth place in the National League West, 7 1/2 games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers. But the Diamondbacks are just 2 1/2 games out in the NL Wild Card standings.

The Red Sox have been in need of a first baseman since Triston Casas went down last month with a season-ending knee injury. Boston brass asked All-Star slugger Rafael Devers if he would consider moving from designated hitter to first base. That answer was a resounding no and the Red Sox traded Devers to the Giants earlier this month.

Romy Gonzalez and Abraham Toro are holding down first base for the time being. But the Red Sox are toying with moving prospect Kristian Campbell to first. He’s currently getting some reps with Triple-A Worcester.

Naylor earned his first All-Star nod last year while playing for the Guardians, with whom he set career highs in home runs (31), RBIs (108) and runs scored (84). Cleveland traded Naylor the Diamondbacks in December.

This year, he’s hitting .303 with nine home runs and 51 RBIs. He also has 10 stolen bases, which ties his career high set in 2023.