Red Sox could target Diamondbacks $10.9 million All-Star to fill first base

The Boston Red Sox are a team that is hanging around the .500 mark, but are right in the thick of the postseason race in the American League.

At 40-40, they are just six games behind the New York Yankees and 1 1/2 games out in the Wild Card race. They recently traded Rafael Devers, a move which had many around the industry scratching their heads.

But with Devers gone, Boston now needs to focus on other areas of the roster that need improvement. First base is one such area.

Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel of ESPN listed Josh Naylor as a trade candidate and Boston as a possible fit for the former All-Star.

"Naylor is batting over .300 this year as a lefty-hitting first baseman in a contract year on pace for about 20 homers. 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."

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Naylor is hitting .303/.358/.467 with nine home runs, 51 RBI, 10 stolen bases and an .824 OPS.

The Red Sox could certainly use his power in their lineup. He should be able to take advantage of a short porch in right field at Fenway Park, which could help him get his power numbers up.

Naylor has spent most of his career with the Cleveland Guardians. He was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks last offseason and has produced well for them.

He shouldn't be too expensive of an asset to acquire for the Red Sox if they decide to go that route, especially with Naylor being in the final year of his contract.

We'll see if the Red Sox can get hot again and what they might do at the deadline.

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