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Diamondbacks Send Josh Naylor to Mariners as Deadline Approaches

  • Writer: Mason Linken
    Mason Linken
  • Jul 24
  • 2 min read

The 2025 MLB trade deadline has started with a bang, with the Seattle Mariners acquiring 1B/OF Josh Naylor from the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday night. The deal comes as no surprise, with the Diamondbacks (50-53) sitting at three games below .500, and 5.5 games back of the third NL wild-card spot. 


Naylor, 28, is a rental for Seattle as they prepare to make a strong playoff push. He’s set to be a free agent upon the conclusion of the 2025 season, and could enjoy a solid free agent deal if his pace of production continues. Through 93 games, Naylor has slashed .292/.360/.447, with a 124 OPS+. The lefty has also swatted 11 homers, 59 RBIs, and put up 1.4 fWAR thus far. This is the second time this year Naylor has been traded, after the Guardians shipped him to Arizona earlier in the 2025 offseason. 


A high average and on-base hitter, Naylor seems perfect to slide right atop Seattle’s order. He provides a much-needed offensive upgrade from Donovan Solano and Luke Raley, and can provide Cal Raleigh and Randy Arozarena with some additional lineup protection. 


Heading back to Arizona in the deal are two Mariners top prospects: LHP Brandyn Garcia (Seattle #13) and RHP Ashton Izzi (Seattle #16).


Garcia – drafted in round 11 of the 2023 draft – made his major league debut earlier this season. He's pitched just two inning thus far, but has showcased strong numbers in the minor leagues. Through 68 games, Garcia owned a 2.49 ERA, while striking out 184 batters in 159.1 innings pitched. In 2025, Garcia has been used exclusively as a reliever, but his role with the Diamondbacks could shift. He made 25 starts (and two relief appearances) across High-A and AA in 2024, pitching to a 2.25 ERA. 


Izzi, the second component of Arizona’s return, was drafted in the fourth round of the 2022 draft. He’s yet to progress past High-A, and has exhibited concerning performances up to this point in his career. Through 47 career starts, he's pitched to a 4.13 ERA, while striking out 162 in 176.1 IP. He’s struggled with command and limiting contact, allowing 178 hits and issuing 88 free passes to this point in his career, good for a 1.51 WHIP. 


While there are more moves to be made in a competitive AL landscape, the Mariners have started things off strong. At 54-48, they hold onto the AL’s second wild-card spot, and are clearly all in. 




Cover photo credit: Jhonmaxmena2 via Wikimedia



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