Guardians deal Naylor to Brewers for Perkins, Yoho

CLEVELAND -- It’s hard for the Guardians to pinpoint exactly where things went off track with Bo Naylor. Ahead of Monday’s 6 p.m. ET Trade Deadline, they gave the catcher the chance at a fresh start elsewhere after his unfulfilling tenure in Cleveland.

The Guardians traded Naylor, who was once viewed as their long-term answer behind the plate, and right-hander Codi Heuer to the Brewers on Saturday in exchange for right-hander Craig Yoho and outfielder Blake Perkins.

Perkins will join Triple-A Columbus to start. The Guardians are working through the next steps for Yoho. President of baseball operations Chris Antonetti noted there are a number of "balls in the air" as the Deadline looms.

TRADE DETAILS

Guardians receive: RHP Craig Yoho, OF Blake Perkins
Brewers receive: C Bo Naylor, RHP Codi Heuer

Naylor, Cleveland’s first-round Draft pick in 2018, made his big league debut on Oct. 1, 2022. The onetime Top 100 prospect assumed the Guardians’ starting catching job in ‘23, but struggled to produce offensively in the Majors. Naylor has a career .199/.279/.372 slash line in 1,131 plate appearances over 346 games.

The Guardians were hopeful 2026 would mark a breakout for Naylor, who hit .290 with an .872 OPS over 19 games in September last season. But he struggled out of the gates, hitting .143 with a .438 OPS over 28 games, and was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on May 10.

“We weren't able to help him be as consistent offensively as we think he can be,” Antonetti said. “We scratched our heads a lot trying to figure out how do we do that, how do we support Bo better. But in the end, we just couldn't help him unlock that consistency.”

Naylor's option corresponded with the Guardians acquiring catcher Patrick Bailey from the Giants on May 10. That deal made it tough to chart a path for Naylor back to Cleveland. The Guardians’ catching mix also includes Austin Hedges and David Fry, and prospects Cooper Ingle (CLE No. 3 prospect, MLB No. 58 overall, according to MLB Pipeline) and Kody Huff with Columbus.

Antonetti said the Guardians began to have dialogue about Naylor with other teams after they acquired Bailey, though this trade came together in recent days.

“He's going to a great organization,” Antonetti added of Naylor. “I'm hoping he can get his career going in the direction that he wants and get back to being the Major League catcher that we all think he's capable of being.”

The Guardians’ biggest need ahead of the Deadline is bolstering an offense that has collectively struggled this season. This trade does not address that, though Antonetti noted the club is still looking to find a way to improve offensively before the Deadline. But Yoho and Perkins add depth to Cleveland’s organizational bullpen and outfield pictures.

Yoho is under club control through 2031. The right-hander is known for his unique changeup, which he has thrown 45.5 percent of the time this season. Opponents hit just .103 against it. He also features a sinker (24 percent usage), four-seamer (19.5 percent) and cutter (10.4). While his sinker averaged 94.6 mph, his elite extension off the mound (7.1 feet, 93rd percentile) helps his heaters play up.

Yoho logged a 1.10 ERA over 113 appearances in the Minors, with 193 strikeouts and 49 walks in 131 innings over 113 appearances, with varying results in the Majors. He has a 4.40 ERA with 25 strikeouts and 17 walks in 28 2/3 innings over 23 appearances since he debuted last season.

“We've been encouraged by his Minor League track record,” Antonetti said. “He's never been an elite strike thrower, but it's certainly been better than his Major League stint. We think once he gets into a role and settled, that he can throw enough strikes to be effective."

Perkins, 29, was a National League Gold Glove Award finalist in center field in 2024. He has logged +16 outs above average in the outfield over four big league seasons, while compiling a .223/.307/.330 slash line over 297 career big league games.

Perkins (who slashed .157/.250/.258 over 55 big league games this season) is a switch-hitter who has been better against lefties (career .639 OPS) than righties (.602). He perhaps could fill a platoon role in the Majors, if not provide value off the bench. Along with his glove, Perkins also has plus speed. His 28.7 ft/sec sprint speed this season ranks in the 86th percentile in the Majors.

As it stands, the Guardians’ big league outfield mix includes Chase DeLauter, Petey Halpin, Steven Kwan and Angel Martínez.

The Guardians signed Heuer to a Minor League deal on Dec. 22 last offseason. He recorded a 4.66 ERA in eight appearances over four big league stints this season.