Red Sox could swing trade for $100 million All-Star to gear up for postseason

The Boston Red Sox could be in the market for a first baseman this month. While their current platoon has gotten the job done, an upgrade could be key in making a deep run in October.

Abraham Toro and Romy González have done a solid job filling in after Triston Casas suffered a season-ending knee injury. However, the Red Sox could benefit from adding a rental bat to help get them into and potentially through October. ESPN's Jeff Passan tabbed them as a potential suitor for Josh Naylor of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

"Naylor is batting around .300 this season as a lefty-hitting first baseman in a contract year on pace for about 20 homers," wrote Passan. "Naylor faces left-handed pitchers more often than the next player on the list but hasn't been particularly good at it either. His on-base skills and lack of strikeouts make him an especially attractive acquisition candidate for postseason contenders."

USA Today's Bob Nightengale revealed that the Diamondbacks are making Naylor available at the deadline, but that could change as they claw their way back into the postseason race. It will not change the fact that Naylor will be a free agent after the season and is projected to sign a five-year, $100 million deal.

Naylor is slashing .292/.361/.452 on the season. He would be a great addition for the Red Sox. He is going to be a free agent anyway, so the Red Sox could return to Casas playing at first base next year, if that's what they want.

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He was an All-Star last year, and has 59 home runs with a .808 OPS since the start of 2023. The Diamondbacks' plans at the trade deadline could change if they feel like they can actually make a postseason push. If they do decide to sell, Naylor is one of a few Diamondbacks players who could be a fit for the Red Sox.