What Reds fans are missing about possible Josh Naylor pursuit (and it could be huge)

Though the positional fit is clunky, the links between Josh Naylor and the Cincinnati Reds have been burning for some time. First, there's the connection to Terry Francona. Then, there's the fact that the Reds nearly traded for Naylor on multiple occasions, with the most recent occurrence being at the trade deadline.

The reason for the infatuation is clear. Cincinnati needs an infusion of offense in the worst way, and Naylor can give them what they need on multiple fronts. At 28 years old, he's still ascending, making him the perfect veteran complement to the young core.

With a year hitting over .300 and another campaign in which he crushed 31 dingers, Naylor brings a balanced offensive profile that will help uplift the lineup in multiple ways. Heck, he even threw in 30 stolen bases in 2025, to boot.

In their quest to upgrade their offensive attack, the Reds face multiple problems. One is finding an impact bat that will fit in their budget, and the second is doing so without having to part with draft pick compensation as a result of a declined qualifying offer. With Naylor, one of these two sticking points will be a non-factor.

By pursuing Josh Naylor, the Reds would avoid surrendering a draft pick

Money will be an issue when it comes to Naylor, though he'll likely be more affordable than other alternatives. Jim Bowden predicts a four-year, $90 million deal for his services, while Spotrac is more conservative with a three-year, $45 million projection that feels too low, but would be a dream come true for the Reds.

Either price should be doable for Cincinnati, though the real prize is the fact that by virtue of being traded at the deadline, Naylor is ineligible to receive the qualifying offer. That means the Reds, or any other team that ends up signing him, will not have to surrender draft compensation.

No team likes surrendering draft picks, which is why non-elite free agents with the qualifying offer attached are often left out in the cold, but for a club with the budgetary restrictions the Reds have, draft assets are at a premium.

There's another wrinkle, too, that could make Naylor an ideal target. The first base market is relatively flush. Pete Alonso is the headliner, with Naylor likely the runner-up. However, Japanese stars Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto will also be highly sought after at the cold corner. Some believe that at this stage in his career, former Red Eugenio Suarez could transition across the diamond to first as well.

All said, Naylor's balanced offensive approach, connection to Francona, lack of draft pick compensation, and a plethora of alternatives driving down his price could make him the ideal Reds target.