Mariners get All-Star 1B Josh Naylor in trade with D-backs

Jul 24, 2025, 6:02 PM | Updated: 7:32 pm

Seattle Sports

The Seattle Mariners have acquired former All-Star first baseman Josh Naylor from the Arizona Diamondbacks.

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The Mariners are sending two pitching prospects, left-hander Brandyn Garcia and right-hander Ashton Izzi, to Arizona in exchange for the 28-year-old Naylor in the first move for Seattle ahead of the July 31 MLB trade deadline next Thursday.

ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan reported the trade early Thursday evening. The Mariners confirmed it roughly an hour later.

Per Daniel Kramer, who covers the Mariners for MLB.com, Naylor is expected to join the team Friday for Game 2 of a four-game series in Anaheim, Calif., against the Los Angeles Angels.

Naylor, who will be a free agent after this season, brings a much-needed impact bat to first base for the Mariners, who entered Thursday 23rd in MLB in batting average (.233), 22nd in on-base percentage (.298) and 19th in wRC+ (105) at the position.

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“We are thrilled to add Josh as we make a push for the Postseason,” Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said in a press release. “Josh’s ability to hit for both average and power is unique and we are excited to not face him anymore.”

That quote seems to be in reference to a memorable series Naylor had against the Mariners in June, going 8 for 12 with six RBIs and just one strikeout. That series included Naylor hitting a walk-off grand slam in the 11th inning to lift the D-backs over Seattle 8-4 on June 9.

Naylor, an All-Star with the Guardians in 2024, hit .292 with an .807 OPS, 19 doubles, 11 home runs and 49 RBIs over 93 games in his first season with Arizona. The left-handed-hitting first baseman struck out just 49 times in 394 plate appearances, good for a 12.9% strikeout rate that ranks in the 92nd percentile in baseball.

Naylor hit a career-best .308 in 121 games with the Guardians in 2023 and set his career mark for home runs with 31 last season.

Previously: Two insiders name Naylor as ideal M’s trade target

Garcia, an 11th-round pick in the 2023 draft, is the No. 13 prospect in the Mariners farm system, per MLB Pipeline. The 25 year old made his major league debut Seattle on Monday against the Brewers. He allowed two runs (one earned) in two innings over two appearances before being optioned to Triple-A earlier Thursday.

Izzi, a fourth-round pick in 2022, is Seattle’s 16th-ranked prospect. The 21 year old had is 2-4 with a 5.51 ERA over 47 1/3 innings in 12 starts with High-A Everett this season.

Seattle Sports’ Brent Stecker contributed to this post.