“The Reds have kicked the tires on” Josh Naylor and Lane Thomas in commerce talks with the Guardians, in keeping with Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer. The Guards are recognized to be open to gives for both participant, although there isn’t any indication {that a} cope with the Reds or anybody is especially shut. Wittenmyer’s use of the “kicked the tires” phrasing may trace that this was extra of an exploratory check-in for the Reds than a critical push for both Cleveland participant.
Cincinnati is understood to be taking a look at outfield additions specifically, as president of baseball operations Nick Krall just lately stated that any new bat introduced into the Reds’ fold would “almost certainly” be an outfielder. Thomas’ right-handed bat might be a complement for Jake Fraley or TJ Friedl (each left-handed hitters) in proper or middle subject, although for the reason that Reds’ price range could also be fairly restricted, Thomas’ $8.3MM projected arbitration wage is a little bit steep for what may ideally be a part-time position.
Thomas hit higher with the Nationals (.253/.331/.407 in 341 plate appearances) than he did with the Guardians (.209/.267/.390 in 187 PA) final season, and the mixed totals work out to a barely subpar 99 wRC+. Thomas was value 1.3 fWAR total in his 130 whole video games, as public defensive metrics strongly disliked his proper subject glovework, and he was middling at finest as a middle subject.
The Reds’ infield state of affairs is each crowded and unsettled on the identical time. On paper, Jeimer Candelario, Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Noelvi Marte are lined up on the high decisions to see time on the nook infield slots and (most likely moreso in Encarnacion-Strand’s case) at designated hitter. Nonetheless, none of this trio hit properly in 2024, plus CES missed many of the season as a result of wrist surgical procedure, and Marte missed the primary half of the season as a result of a PED suspension.
Including Naylor’s massive bat at first base would add much more certainty to this combine, and since Naylor is barely beneath workforce management by means of the 2025 season, there can be loads of time down the highway for Encarnacion-Strand and Marte to become regulars in Cincinnati’s lineup. Naylor is coming off one other high quality season with the Guardians, hitting .243/.320/.456 with a career-high 31 homers over 633 PA.
Given the profiles of the 2 gamers, it’s truthful to take a position that the Guardians is perhaps extra prepared to commerce Thomas in a pure salary-dump sort of transfer, whereas Cleveland would need a extra distinguished return in alternate for Naylor. As famous earlier, the Reds’ obvious lack of monetary flexibility will make issues tough for Krall’s entrance workplace, so becoming Naylor’s projected $12MM wage is perhaps a fair higher problem, even when Naylor gives extra upside.
