Reds’ stalled trade deadline talks may have opened the door for Sal Stewart’s call-up

According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the Cincinnati Reds nearly pulled off a trade deadline deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks for first baseman Josh Naylor. Instead, the D-backs dealt Naylor to the Seattle Mariners, and Cincinnati added Ke'Bryan Hayes and Miguel Andujar.

Acquiring Naylor may have flipped the entire Reds' season on its head. Since joining the Mariners, Naylor has been instrumental in their ascent to the top of the mountain in the AL West. Seattle dethroned the Houston Astros while Naylor was hitting .299/.341/.490 with nine home runs and 33 RBI.

Though Terry Francona certainly would've loved to have that type of production in the middle of his lineup during the second half of the season, it's highly likely that Reds' rookie Sal Stewart would not have made his big league debut this season if Naylor was traded to Cincinnati.

Reds Rumors: Cincy attempted to swing a deal for Josh Naylor at the MLB trade deadline

The majority of Naylor's starts in Seattle have come at first base, a position that Stewart has been learning since his call-up on September 1. The Reds had leaned heavily on Spencer Steer holding that position down through the season, but a nagging injury during the final month of the season has seen him share first base duties with Stewart.

Had the Reds acquired Naylor, of course, Stewart would've likely remained at Triple-A Louisville through the end of the season. Since his big league debut, however, Stewart has played sparingly, appearing in 18 games and hitting .255/.293/.545 with five home runs and eight RBI. Stewart looks to be a key piece of the Reds roster heading into the 2026 season.

Another interesting development would've centered around Noelvi Marte. Did the Reds turn their attention to Hayes after failing to land Naylor? The Mariners snagged Naylor six days before the Reds acquired Hayes from the Pittsburgh Pirates. The acquisition of Hayes is what led the Reds to move Marte to the outfield.

Oftentimes, it's the deals you don't make that reshape your franchise's future. After missing out on Naylor, the Reds added a Gold Glover at third base, called up their top prospect in September, and are on the cusp of the MLB Postseason. Who knows how things would've turned out if Cincinnati followed through with their plan and actually traded for Naylor?

If the Reds are still interested after the season, Naylor will be a free agent. After seeing the numbers he's posted since joining the Mariners, however, it's a highly likely that Seattle will look to retain his services beyond the 2025 season.

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