Josh Naylor Joins Mariners as Diamondbacks Trade First Baseman for Pair of Pitchers
In a significant trade, Josh Naylor has been sent to the Seattle Mariners by the Diamondbacks, who received two pitchers in return. This move marks the first major trade ahead of the deadline.
The Seattle Mariners have traded for left-handed first baseman Josh Naylor from the Arizona Diamondbacks. In exchange, Arizona receives left-handed pitcher Brandyn Garcia and right-handed pitcher Ashton Izzi. The trade was confirmed by the Diamondbacks on Thursday evening.
This trade marks the first significant move leading up to the July 31 Major League Baseball trade deadline and may indicate that the Diamondbacks are looking to sell more players in the current window.
As of now, the 28-year-old Naylor boasts a batting average of .292 with 11 home runs this season. The Mariners will likely utilize him as the primary first baseman, possibly sharing the role in a platoon with Luke Raley or Donovan Solano. Meanwhile, Arizona is in discussions about potential movements to bolster their roster for the future.
Quote from Hall: “I think it’s time for us to be responsible enough to improve our team with what we have and, with that, let’s enhance our future.”
Translation: This strategy suggests they are preparing for future success, considering they currently sit 5.5 games out of playoff contention.
