With the July 31 MLB trade deadline fast approaching, the Texas Rangers are preparing to face a revamped Seattle Mariners squad that just made a notable move. Seattle acquired first baseman Josh Naylor from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for pitching prospects Ashton Izzi and Brandyn Garcia — both ranked among the Mariners’ Top 30 prospects, according to The Athletic’s Keith Law.
While Texas is dealing with its own uncertainty at first base following Jake Burger’s injury, Seattle has addressed a key weakness. The position had previously been filled by former Ranger Rowdy Tellez, who was designated for assignment and later released earlier this season.
Naylor, a 28-year-old left-handed hitter and former first-round pick by Miami, is putting together a strong season. He’s slashing .292/.360/.447 with 11 home runs, 59 RBIs, and 19 doubles — following up on last year’s breakout 31-homer campaign with Cleveland.
Arizona, who acquired Naylor during the offseason, appears to be entering sell mode as the deadline nears — potentially opening the door for the Rangers to explore additional moves, especially with six games remaining against the Diamondbacks this season.
Despite earlier speculation that Texas might become sellers, they’ve built momentum with five wins in their last six games since the All-Star break. The upcoming series against Seattle will not only test the Rangers against a newly bolstered lineup but also serve as the final showdown between the AL West rivals this year.
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