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2 hours ago
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The Cleveland Guardians are in a bit of an odd position.
Cleveland is inclined to keep its status as a top postseason contender after coming one step away from returning to the World Series for the first time since 2016 last season.
However, the Guardians have a top producer coming up on a big payday after the upcoming campaign and are likely inclined to try to deal him away before losing him as a free agent next winter.
While Josh Naylor is a big bat and fan favorite, designated hitter Kyle Manzardo is widely believed to be his heir apparent at first base.
To that end, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic sees a possibility where the Guardians could deal Naylor to the New York Yankees before the start of next season.
While dealing away Naylor to the very team that defeated Cleveland in the 2024 American League Championship Series would make Guardians fans squirm, the Guardians are uniquely poised to replace his 31-home run production in the lineup.
Cleveland has a bit of a traffic backup when it comes to slugging first sackers. Manzardo hit 61 homers with 193 RBI in 286 minor-league games before making his Major League Baseball debut last season.
The 24-year-old did not appear over his head in his big-league debut, hitting .235 with five homers and 15 RBI in 53 games.
If the Guardians were able to trade Naylor and move Manzardo to first base, it would open up the DH role for another hulking young slugger in Jhonkensy Noel.
Noel, lovingly dubbed "Big Christmas" by Clevelanders, is a classic low-average, high-power masher. In 67 games during his MLB debut last season, he hit just .218 but smashed 13 homers with 28 RBI.
Trading Naylor to the Yankees or another MLB team this winter would open up regular playing time for both Manzardo and Noel, meaning that Cleveland could prospectively reinforce its ranks with New York prospects without missing a step at the major-league level.
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