Summary:
The Seattle Mariners have made a significant trade by acquiring veteran first baseman Josh Naylor from the D-Backs, sending two top prospects, Brandyn Garcia (#13) and Ashton Izzi (#16), in return. Naylor, 28, is a left-handed hitter with a solid .292 average, .807 OPS, 11 home runs, and 59 RBIs this season. He will join the team in Anaheim on Friday.
This move marks a potential start for the Mariners as they continue to pursue other players, including Eugenio Suárez from the D-Backs, who is also being eyed by other teams like the Yankees and Cubs. The Mariners have been given the green light by ownership to increase spending, as they sit competitively in the AL West and wild card race.
Naylor adds depth to Seattle’s lineup, which has shown inconsistency this season, despite performing well in offensive stats. He has postseason experience, which is valuable for a team looking to enhance its chances in October.
Garcia and Izzi, though promising, will be missed, with Garcia being a quickly rising pitcher and Izzi struggling in his few starts this season. The Mariners aim to bolster their offense further before the trade deadline on July 31.
