Mariners trade for first baseman Josh Naylor from Diamondbacks

MLB Trade Deadline: Mariners Acquire Josh Naylor

The Major League Baseball trade deadline has officially begun.

The Seattle Mariners announced on Thursday that they have acquired Josh Naylor from the Arizona Diamondbacks. In return, the Diamondbacks received minor league pitchers Branding Garcia and Ashton Iji.

Naylor, who is 28 years old, has been a standout player for the Diamondbacks this season. Over 93 games, he boasts a batting average of .292, along with 11 home runs and 59 RBIs.

The Diamondbacks brought in Naylor this season from the Cleveland Guardians, filling the gap left by Christian Walker, who signed with the Houston Astros as a free agent.

Naylor was part of the American League All-Star team last season. Seattle’s general manager, Justin Hollander, expressed excitement about the addition, stating, “We are thrilled to be able to add Josh as we push for the postseason. His unique ability to hit for both average and power is valuable, and we look forward to not having to face him anymore.”

Naylor is expected to join the Mariners’ top lineup, playing alongside AL MVP candidate Cal Laurie, center fielder Julio Rodriguez, and left fielder Randy Arozarena.

The Mariners currently sit at 55-48, holding the second wildcard spot in the American League, just trailing the Astros in the AL West.

Garcia, 25, made her MLB debut with the Mariners on July 21 after being selected in the 11th round of the 2023 MLB draft from Texas A&M. In eight appearances for the Mariners’ Triple-A team, she posted a 2.16 ERA.

Iji, 21, was picked by the Mariners in the fourth round of the 2022 MLB Draft after attending East Oswego High School in Illinois. He has had 12 starts at High-A Everett, with a 5.51 ERA across 47 1/3 innings.

As the July 31 trade deadline approaches, the Diamondbacks are likely to be active in the market. Currently at 50-53, the team is looking to offload some players with long-term contracts after a disappointing season. Players like Eugenios Ares, along with starting pitchers Zack Gallen and Meryl Kelly, could also find themselves on the move.