The Seattle Mariners added some thump to their lineup Thursday, acquiring first baseman Josh Naylor from the Arizona Diamondbacks for pitching prospects Brandyn Garcia and Ashton Izzi.
“We are thrilled to add Josh as we make a push for the postseason,” Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said. “Josh’s ability to hit for both average and power is unique and we are excited not to have to face him anymore.”
Naylor fills a glaring hole in his new team’s lineup at first base. Mariners first basemen have been worth a combined 0.4 fWAR while hitting only 16 homers this season. Rowdy Tellez, Seattle’s Opening Day starter at the position, was released in June.
The 28-year-old is also a great fit in Seattle’s lineup due to his patient approach and lack of strikeouts. The Mariners’ 25.1 strikeout percentage is the sixth-highest in the majors; by contrast, Naylor’s 12.4 K% is the 13th-lowest among qualified hitters this year.
An All-Star with the Cleveland Guardians in 2024, Naylor’s enjoying a solid season with the D-Backs, hitting .292/.360/.447 with 11 homers, 59 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases over 93 games. He crushed 31 homers and drove in 108 runs with the Guardians last season, before being dealt to Arizona in the winter.
The D-Backs have clearly chosen to act as sellers this summer after slumping to a 50-53 record. Third baseman Eugenio Suárez and right-handers Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly are also potential candidates to be dealt ahead of next Thursday’s deadline.
Seattle, meanwhile, is loading up to try and reach the playoffs for just the second time since 2001. Dan Wilson’s club is currently tied with Boston for the final AL wild-card spot.
Hollander and president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto don’t appear to be finished, either. The Mariners are continuing to talk with Arizona about a trade that would bring Suárez back to Seattle, a source told Adam Jude of the Seattle Times. Suárez, the major-league RBI leader, spent two seasons with the Mariners before being traded to Arizona in November 2023.
Garcia, ranked as the Mariners’ No. 13 prospect by MLB.com prior to the trade, made his major-league debut Monday. The 25-year-old left-hander started his season in Double-A before moving up to Triple-A and then the majors. Garcia put up a 3.51 ERA and 1.38 WHIP with 42 strikeouts and 17 walks over 32 minor-league relief appearances this year.
Arizona optioned Garcia to Triple-A Reno after the trade, and recalled infielder Tristin English in a corresponding move.
Izzi, a 21-year-old right-hander, was Seattle’s fourth-round pick in 2022. The 21-year-old has spent this season at High-A Everett, where he’s posted a 5.51 ERA and 1.56 WHIP while striking out over 10 batters per nine innings across 12 starts. He was ranked as the Mariners’ No. 16 prospect.
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