Yankees could target Guardians slugger in blockbuster trade proposal

The New York Yankees have their sights set on re-signing Juan Soto, but they have other needs to address as well this offseason.

One of the bigger concerns for the Yankees going into the offseason is at the first base position. The Yankees paid $6 million for Anthony Rizzo to not be on the roster, and the other options within the organization come with big concerns.

Looking to take advantage of a World Series window, the Yankees could turn to free agency or look to make a trade in order to acquire a player with less of a hit against the luxury tax.

One proposed idea came from Chris Kirschner of The Athletic, who believes the Yankees could target Cleveland Guardians slugger Josh Naylor.

"Unlike Soto, who was also a one-year rental trade chip, Naylor won’t come at nearly the same price due to his lesser pedigree. That said, Naylor remains an intriguing option for any team considering him," Kirschner wrote. "Depending on the trade capital required, Naylor could quickly become the Yankees’ top target."

It would be interesting to see the Yankees add Naylor considering the history between the two sides. But if it means upgrading the lineup with another lefty power bat — which it would — the Yankees have to consider it.

The 27-year-old is still under team control through the 2025 season, and he's coming off a campaign in which he slashed .243/.320/.456 with 27 home runs, 108 RBI and a 118 OPS+ (18 percent better than league average.

If the Yankees can get a deal done without spending too much draft capital, it's a move they should heavily consider.