Scottsdale, Arizona — Josh Naylor didn’t ask him to attend the Arizona Diamondbacks camp, so honestly, Cleveland has completely stayed with content.
He did not volunteer to trade three Gold Glove base-handed Christian Walkers on the field or replace his leadership in the clubhouse, but now he has no choice.
Naylor is one of the eight first bassmen to switch teams in the winter when he was traded for a competitive balance round B draft pick by parents in December, so he was one of the first basemen to switch teams. If you can replicate the power you saw previously, hit a career-high 31 Homer and 108 RBI and everything handles itself.
He’s not going to bring the same defense as Walker and may not be that popular with fans, but he certainly can follow Walker’s lead. Walker replaced their perennial MVP nominee and fan favorite All-star Paul Goldschmidt in 2019. He used the opportunity to receive a three-year, $60 million free agent contract with the Houston Astros.
“He’s an incredible player,” said Naylor, 27, “and I know he’s a popular leader too. I fill in that role and step into those shoes, and he I want to be the leader who was in the locker room. Maybe someone comes with confidence and the voice and player who can talk about things when things are shattered or anything, just become good friends.
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“I’m not going to change my players. I’m going to become myself and grow as much as I can.”
Certainly, Naylor did it as a batter last year. He decided to hit more Homer in 2023 after hitting a career-high .308 with .842 OPS with 17 home runs and 97 RBI. His home run total jumped, but his batting average plunged to .243 with 65 points.
“I went last season trying to attack more Homer, and I knew my average would fluctuate a bit,” Naylor said. “My goal (now) is to put both together. I want to be a perfect batsman, have an average of .300, homer over 30, and an RBI over 100. Put all these numbers together I want to have a great year.”
Diamondbacks willing to take such a production. They weren’t the first baseman since 2015 to hit at least .300 with over 30 homers. They could potentially score 60 homers from the corner infield with the third baseman Eugenio Suarez, who hit at least 30 homers in the last five, six full seasons.
Who knows, maybe he can last for a while too? Naylor says he didn’t pay attention to Pete Alonso Saga along with the Mets. It’s too early to know where to play in 2026, but he likes what he’s seen in D-Backs camp.
“This team is incredible,” Naylor said. Players and younger teams do well too. ”
Of course, Naylor thought he was in an ideal situation in Cleveland as well. The Guardians won 92 games last season, won the AL Central title, knocking out the Detroit Tigers in the AL Division Series, shocking everyone by losing to the ALCS’ New York Yankees.
Instead of building that success, the Guardians cut their pay and lower their pay, swapping three Gold Gloves two-base Andres Guimenez for the Toronto Blue Jays for a $100 million salary dump. , sent Naylor to Arizona.
Did Naylor, who earned $10.9 million this year, surprised him that he was traded?
“I was feeling it,” Naylor said. “Maybe the last few offseasons were like I was feeling. It happens. Baseball is business. I get used to this. It’s because I started playing professional ball, and I’ve been with it. It was the fourth organization. The first few transactions are difficult, but you get used to it.
“God plans things for you. You never know what it will be, where you will be. Roll along with the punch, continue to grow and make the most of your opportunities. Please keep doing it.”
So, aren’t you not surprised that Gimenes has also been abandoned?
“He’s now?” Naylor said. “Yes. I was very surprised.”
Now, knowing how to repeat as Al Central Champions after cutting your salary to just $89 million is a Guardians issue. In the case of Diamondback, they have earned a salary of over $190 million in franchise history after signing an Ace Corbin Burns club record $210 million contract.
“It’s a great, what a phenomenal pitcher,” Naylor said. “This team, they obviously want to win. I’m very grateful to be part of it.”
Naylor will definitely miss out on playing with her 24-year-old brother Beau, a Guardians catcher, but the brothers can at least stay together in the same house in spring workouts. In athletics organization.
And together, they share their dreams.
“Our parents, they really made this all come true for us,” Naylor said. So I think it’s why we’re working so hard to succumb to them. One day, hopefully (we can retire them and come out in every game they can.
“They did an incredible job raising us, and we are very grateful.”
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