Brewers acquire Guardians catcher Bo Naylor in deadline trade

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Brewers acquire Guardians catcher Bo Naylor in deadline trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Milwaukee Brewers are making a notable addition behind the plate before the MLB trade deadline. Milwaukee is acquiring catcher Bo Naylor from the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for right-handed reliever Craig Yoho, according to MLB insider Jon Heyman.

The deal gives the Brewers a former first-round pick who has already displayed legitimate power at the major league level. Naylor has struggled throughout the 2026 season, but Milwaukee is betting that a change of scenery could help the 26-year-old rediscover his form. Naylor was batting just .143 with two home runs, seven RBIs and a .438 OPS for Cleveland this season. Those numbers ultimately resulted in the Guardians sending him to the minor leagues.

However, his career totals offer a better picture of the upside Milwaukee is acquiring. Naylor has hit 40 home runs and collected 125 RBIs across 346 major league games. The left-handed hitter has 47 doubles and 122 runs scored in 1,003 career at-bats.

Brewers take a chance on Bo Naylor’s upside​

Cleveland selected Naylor with the No. 29 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft. He eventually joined his older brother, Josh Naylor, in the Guardians’ lineup and was once viewed as an important piece of the franchise’s future. Bo Naylor’s best MLB season came in 2024, when he hit 13 home runs and drove in 39 runs over 123 games. Although his batting average remained low, his power and patience gave Cleveland reason to believe he could develop into an above-average offensive catcher.

Brewers acquire Guardians catcher Bo Naylor in deadline trade

That progress has stalled over the past two seasons. Milwaukee is now buying low on a player who remains under club control and will not turn 27 until February. Naylor’s ability to hit from the left side also gives the Brewers additional flexibility when constructing their lineup and managing their catching situation.

The Brewers have developed a reputation for finding value in players who have fallen out of favor elsewhere. Naylor represents another opportunity to do exactly that.

MORE: Twins acquire Dean Kremer from Orioles in MLB trade deadline move

Guardians add another bullpen option​

Cleveland receives Yoho, a right-handed reliever with a deceptive changeup who gives the organization another potential bullpen weapon. Yoho was selected by the Brewers in the eighth round of the 2023 MLB Draft. He moved quickly through Milwaukee’s minor league system and established himself as one of the more interesting relief prospects in the organization.

The 25-year-old could fit naturally with a Guardians franchise that has consistently shown an ability to develop pitchers and build effective bullpens without relying heavily on expensive outside additions.

For Cleveland, the trade closes the book on Naylor’s uneven tenure with the organization. For Milwaukee, it is a calculated gamble on a talented catcher whose value has dropped considerably. Naylor does not need to become an immediate star for this move to work. If the Brewers can help him recover some of the power and on-base ability he previously displayed, they may have landed a useful long-term piece at a relatively modest price.

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