Could solid Guardians veteran be the answer at first base for SF Giants?

First base is a position the SF Giants could try to upgrade this offseason. There are free agent options out there, but the Giants could pursue a trade for veteran Cleveland Guardians first baseman Josh Naylor.

This trade idea was floated by John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle in an article about trades as an avenue to improve the Giants' roster. Let's dig a bit deeper to see if Naylor really would be a good fit for the Giants.

SF Giants could trade for Josh Naylor to improve first base

To begin, first base is definitely an area the Giants can improve in. Their strategy last season of LaMonte Wade Jr. and Wilmer Flores platooning at the position did not work out as both dealt with injuries and did not put up the power numbers one would expect from first basemen. The Giants could decide to let go of Flores and potentially trade Wade to make room for Naylor at first.

Naylor had a great 2024 with the Guardians. He hit .243/.320/.456 with 31 home runs and 108 RBI. He made his first All-Star Game as well and helped lead the Guardians to 92 wins and an ALCS appearance.

It is unclear how those numbers would translate to Oracle Park as a left-handed bat, but we have seen left-handed first basemen succeed at Oracle Park before like J.T. Snow and Brandon Belt. Naylor is a good enough hitter to still find success.

Of course, any discussion about the Giants acquiring a first baseman will bring up the dilemma of potentially blocking top prospect Bryce Eldridge. First base is Eldridge's primary position and the Giants view him as a potential future superstar especially after he tore it up and rose quickly through the minor leagues in 2024 and looked solid in the Arizona Fall League.

Naylor is still arbitration-eligible and does not become an unrestricted free agent until next offseason. Therefore, the Giants could potentially get him as something of a rental in 2025 before he hits free agency. They can put Eldridge in the designated hitter spot initially if he makes it to the majors and then reevaluate things after the season.

Naylor would make the Giants better in 2025, but he may not be a long-term solution if the Giants are sold on Eldridge. Nonetheless, the Giants should entertain any and all options to improve the first base position in 2025.