Blue Jays reportedly showed interest in another Guardians slugger before landing Giménez

The Toronto Blue Jays made their biggest splash so far this offseason when they surprised everyone by acquiring star infielder Andrés Giménez from the Cleveland Guardians. However, as it turns out, Giménez wasn’t the only Guardians’ player that the Jays had their keen eye on.

According to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet, the Blue Jays had actually shown some interest in star first baseman Josh Naylor as well in the trade talks leading up to eventual acquisition of Giménez this past Tuesday.

Blue Jays reportedly showed interest in Guardians slugger before landing Giménez instead 

For a Jays’ team looking for a legitimate offensive boost for the 2025 season, Naylor would surely fit the bill. Throughout his six-year MLB career thus far, the former first round pick from the 2015 MLB Draft has averaged 23 home runs and 93 RBI over a 162-game schedule pace each year.

More significantly, Naylor is coming off an All-Star season in which he posted career highs in runs scored (84), home runs (31), RBI (108), walks (58) and total bases (257). On top of that, as a product of Mississauga, Ontario, it would have been a feel-good story to bring him home to Toronto where he could continue his solid professional baseball career with the heartwarming support of the home fans.

But how would Naylor have fit in with the Jays? After all, he had mainly played first base for the past three seasons with the Guardians, but Toronto has Vladimir Guerrero Jr. firmly implanted there already in their everyday lineup. Many may have forgotten but Naylor came up as an outfielder when he made his MLB debut with the San Diego Padres back in 2019. He remained in the outfield even after he was dealt to the Guardians by the Padres during the COVID-shortened 2020 season.

However, a gruesome right ankle injury against the Minnesota Twins in late June of 2021 prematurely ended his season. To help alleviate some of the rigors playing in the outfield following his recovery, Naylor was used primarily at first base to preserve his health. Added to the fact that the Guardians has promising young outfield prospects in Steven Kwan and Will Brennan stepping in to fill the corner outfield roles seamlessly, Naylor ultimately became a fixture at first as a result.

So with Naylor’s ability to play in the outfield if needed, he would have been an ideal solution for the Jays’ outfield that had been lacking in offensive production this past year. He could have also seen time in the designated hitter’s role now that Spencer Horwitz is no longer with the organization. Finally, in the unthinkable outcome that the Jays end up failing to extend Guerrero beyond the 2025 season, Naylor would have also served as his potential replacement at first base.