If the Boston Red Sox hope to sign first base help at the trade deadline, their pool of options just got smaller.
The Seattle Mariners opened the 2025 trade deadline by acquiring Josh Naylor from the Arizona Diamondbacks on July 24, first reported by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The Mariners will send pitchers Brandyn Garcia and Ashton Izzi to Arizona in exchange. Naylor is on an inspiring contract and is a true rental for Seattle, who hope to make the playoffs for the third time this millennium.
The Diamondbacks, at the time of the trade, sit in fourth place in the ever-competitive National League West and five games out of a Wild Card spot. Arizona announced itself as a deadline seller just hours before sending Naylor to Seattle.
First base is one of the Red Sox’s biggest areas of need ahead of the trade deadline, and Naylor was one of the best options available. Abraham Toro started the season well for Boston, but has cooled off drastically at the plate in recent weeks. He’s batting .272/.325/.414 on the season, and just .216/.300/.258 in his last 30 games.
Mariners acquire Josh Naylor from Diamondbacks, eliminating potential Red Sox first base trade candidate
Mariners reportedly acquire 1B Josh Naylor from the D-backs per multiple reports including https://t.co/Z3s2EpgF39’s Mark Feinsand. pic.twitter.com/g0tNlDLLWz
— MLB (@MLB) July 25, 2025
Naylor would have been an upgrade over Toro on both sides of the ball. The first baseman is slashing .292/.360/.447 with an .807 OPS in one of the best offensive seasons of his career. He also boasts a 92nd percentile strikeout percentage, and he’s fanned just 49 times in 93 games. After a period of aggressive offense, the Red Sox returned to their strikeout-heavy ways against the Phillies’ intimidating pitching staff, with 44 in three games. Naylor could’ve helped cut that number.
The Mariners paid an unexpectedly small price for Naylor’s services. Garcia, a lefty pitcher, was their No. 11 prospect and the righty Izzi was the No. 19 prospect. The Red Sox’s farm system is deeper than Seattle’s, and they had more than enough resources to bring Naylor in if they wanted to. Craig Breslow has multiple times stated that starting pitching will be Boston’s priority, however.
Without Naylor on the market, the Red Sox could turn to division rival Ryan O’Hearn for first base reinforcements. He’s slashing .281/.375/.452 with an .827 OPS, 14 doubles and 12 home runs in 89 games for the Orioles. Baltimore may not be willing to send O’Hearn to Boston for such a low price as the Mariners acquired Naylor, but if Seattle set the market, the Sox could get lucky.
Now that the Diamondbacks have established themselves as sellers, some of their pitchers could be on the Red Sox’s radar. Merrill Kelly (3.32 ERA) and Zac Gallen (5.58 ERA) would bring some much-needed depth to Boston’s rotation, although Gallen is having the worst season of his career so far.
