Trade! Mariners acquire slugging infielder Josh Naylor from Arizona Diamondbacks
The Seattle Mariners made their first splash ahead of next Thursday’s MLB trade deadline, acquiring infielder Josh Naylor from the Arizona Diamondbacks in a move that bolsters their lineup for a push toward the postseason.
Seattle dealt left-handed pitcher Brandyn Garcia and minor league right-hander Ashton Izzi to Arizona in exchange for Naylor, a 28-year-old first baseman hitting .292 with 11 home runs and 59 RBI in 93 games for the Diamondbacks this season.
“We are thrilled to add Josh as we make a push for the Postseason,” Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said Thursday. “Josh’s ability to hit for both average and power is unique and we are excited to not face him anymore.”
The Mariners (54-48) are indeed buyers, trailing the AL West-leading Houston Astros (60-43) by 5.5 games entering Thursday night’s opener with the Los Angeles Angels. Seattle and Boston (55-49) are tied for the AL’s second wild card allocation, 1.5 games ahead of Tampa Bay.
Naylor’s arrival in Seattle is the first major move in what’s expected to be a busy week for front offices before MLB’s July 31 trade deadline. His expiring contract after the 2025 season allowed the Mariners to avoid dealing from their plethora of top-end prospects, still armed with farm-system talent for another potential splash. Diamondbacks All-Star and former Mariners third baseman Eugenio Suarez, MLB’s RBI leader (86), is considered the deadline’s biggest prize.
A lineup booster for the middle of Seattle’s order, Naylor is one of 12 left-handed hitters in MLB with an OPS (on-base plus slugging) over .800 since 2023, joining the likes of Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, Freddie Freeman, Bryce Harper, Matt Olson, Rafael Devers, Kyle Schwarber, Gunnar Henderson, Corbin Carroll, Cody Bellinger and Jarren Duran.
“I’m excited to be here,” Naylor told reporters Friday in Anaheim, hours before his Mariners debut. “I’m excited to play hard. I’m excited to win. I love winning.”
An American League All-Star with the Cleveland Guardians in 2024, Naylor notched career-highs in homers (31) and RBI (108) before a Dec. 21 trade sent him to Arizona. The former 2015 first-round pick has appeared with San Diego (2019-20), Cleveland (2020-24), and Arizona (2025) throughout seven major league seasons with a career .773 OPS and 95 homers.
Garcia, 25, appeared in two games for the Mariners this season, allowing two runs (one earned) across two innings. The 11th-round pick in 2023 was Seattle’s No. 13 prospect, per MLB Pipeline.
Izzi, 21, made a dozen appearances for High-A Everett this season, posting a 5.51 ERA and 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings. He was considered Seattle’s No. 16 overall prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and ranked 13th by Baseball America.
This story was originally published July 24, 2025 at 7:39 PM with the headline "Trade! Mariners acquire slugging infielder Josh Naylor from Arizona Diamondbacks."
