The Los Angeles Dodgers aren’t the only team that gets to make the headlines out of the NL West. Also, the San Francisco Giants aren’t the only team that is looking to compete and dethrone the Dodgers from their mantle. The Snakes have come alive and have woken up from their winter slumber.

It is not a big signing, but more of a trade. The Diamondbacks are acquiring first baseman Josh Naylor from the Cleveland Guardians and gave up relief pitcher Slade Cecconi and are also giving up a competitive balance Round B draft pick. This is a slick move by the Diamondbacks, who fill a massive void.

Diamondbacks Filling a Huge Void

This is a huge move to be made by the Diamondbacks. This comes as no surprise, given the hole left at first base. The organization saw Christian Walker sign with the Houston Astros for three years, so there was a gap to fill. Walker was a stable bat, slashing .252/.335/.470 with a .805 OPS. His 119 wRC+ was second among Diamondbacks qualified batters, showcasing his true offensive strength. Walker was also an elite defender, finishing in the 97th percentile for outs above average. Losing Walker was a major blow, but Naylor is a perfect addition.

It’ll be painful for the Guardians, as Naylor was teamed up with his brother Bo Naylor, creating a wholesome moment for the game of baseball. The Guardians will in fact be fine at the position, as they came to an agreement with 38 year old first baseman Carlos Santana. But Naylor now joins the Diamondbacks and fills the first base void. Naylor is coming off a season where he set a career high in home runs (31) and RBI’s (108). He had seemingly improved in that regard the last two seasons, so that’s a pleasant surprise. Naylor finished with a slash line of .243/.320/.456 with a .776 OPS. It was slightly a step back from Walker, but not too far off. Naylor did finish with a 118 wRC+, so it was very close in that regard.

Defensively, he did take a step back. However, he has been a good defender at the first base position. His best defensive season came during the 2023 season, having five outs above average. Is he the same caliber player as Walker? Remains to be seen. But Naylor is a great add to this team.

Naylor Fits on the Snakes

Naylor does have the element of youth. The Diamondbacks maybe did not want to commit the money to Walker given his age. Instead, they got seven years younger at the position, as Naylor is 27 years old. Naylor is arbitration eligible in 2025 and is a free agent in 2026. We can worry about that when the time comes. For now, Naylor takes over at first base and helps form a very nice infield for the club.

Naylor joins Ketel Marte (NL MVP finalist), and Eugenio Suarez to form a strong infield, especially from a defensive standpoint. You factor in Corbin Carroll and Lourdes Gurriel Jr, and this is a team that can compete in the conference and the division.

Let’s also not forget that the Diamondbacks pitching staff is fully intact and with an entirely new pitching staff. The addition of Naylor signals that they are going to compete and that they are not going to roll over and just tread water. Losing Walker stings, but they landed a guy that can play the position and is younger. The Diamondbacks aren’t likely to pay Pete Alonso the hefty price tag and may want to save all their dollars to lock up Zac Gallen, who’s a free agent after this upcoming season.

With all the first baseman coming off the board one by one, this was swift work by the Diamondbacks. They are looking to compete for a playoff spot, that they almost made last season. The NL West is a gauntlet of a division, so they will be right in the mix and are showing signs of life with this move. 

Snakes Alive Baby! America’s Team!