With Christian Encarnacion-Strand back in Triple-A and Spencer Steer putting up so-so numbers, the Cincinnati Reds may be in the market for a first baseman this offseason.
For months, the team has been circling a player familiar to manager Terry Francona: Josh Naylor. The former Cleveland Guardian and current Seattle Mariner would fit in nicely with the Reds’ current scheme, but it’s not his power that could turn heads if Cincinnati picked him up as a free agent.
Since joining Seattle, Naylor has been tearing up the basepaths. The 235-pound slugger doesn’t seem a likely candidate to be swiping bags, but in just 21 games, he has 11 steals.