The Seattle Mariners acquired first baseman Josh Naylor from Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday night, sending back left-handed pitching prospect Brandyn Garcia and right-handed prospect Ashton Izzi in the season\'s first major trade.
The deal signals Seattle\'s aggressive approach to bolster their roster before the July 31 deadline. The Mariners entered Thursday six games behind Houston in the AL West but tied with Boston for the second wild-card spot at 54-48.
Naylor, 28, is hitting .292/.360/.447 with 11 home runs and 59 RBIs in 93 games this season. The 2024 All-Star has struck out just 49 times in 394 plate appearances, making him particularly valuable for his low strikeout rate.
The slugging first baseman has played 103 career games at designated hitter, where he could see time in Seattle. Naylor spent most of his career with Cleveland before Arizona acquired him over the winter.
Arizona\'s decision to move Naylor indicates the franchise is open for business despite entering the season with postseason hopes. The Diamondbacks started 50-53 after making a surprise World Series run in 2023.
The team has several sought-after players approaching free agency, including third baseman Eugenio Suarez and pitchers Merrill Kelly and Zac Gallen. Arizona has prioritized acquiring pitching following injuries to Corbin Burnes and Jordan Montgomery.
Garcia, 25, made his major league debut earlier this week as a reliever after blitzing through Seattle\'s system as a starter. The 11th-round pick from Texas A&M posted a 2.48 ERA between High-A and Double-A last season with 134 strikeouts in 116 innings.
Izzi, 21, was a fourth-round high school selection in 2022 who compiled a 2.85 ERA in the California League last year. Seattle avoided trading from their top prospects, maintaining arguably baseball\'s best farm system while adding a proven contributor.
Via Jeff Passan/ESPN