Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh is having an extraordinary season, already hitting 26 home runs in June alone. With this pace, Raleigh is on track to surpass Salvador Perez’s record for most home runs by a catcher, which stands at 48 set in 2021, highlighting his exceptional impact on the team’s offense.
Meanwhile, the Mariners’ top catching prospect, Harry Ford, is thriving in the minors with a .922 OPS and a .315 batting average. Despite his progress, Ford’s chance to advance in the major leagues is limited by Raleigh’s dominant presence behind the plate.
Trade Talks Surface Around Harry Ford to Boost Mariners’ Offense
An MLB insider suggests that the Mariners could capitalize on Ford’s value by trading him to acquire a powerful hitter. The team is surrounded by sluggish hitters, and adding a consistent slugger could uplift their lineup amid Raleigh’s heavy contribution.
Former general manager Jim Bowden has singled out Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Josh Naylor as a promising trade candidate. Bowden believes that offering Ford alone could secure the deal, providing Seattle with a reliable first baseman expected to outpace incumbent Rowdy Tellez.
This proposed trade would also benefit Arizona, as they would gain one of baseball’s top catching prospects to eventually challenge Gabriel Moreno for the starting catching duties in the near future. Naylor, meanwhile, is set to become a free agent after the 2025 season, adding urgency for the Diamondbacks to make a move.
Mariners’ Offensive Struggles Highlight Need for Additional Power
The Mariners’ pursuit of offensive reinforcements grew more urgent during a stretch where Raleigh blasted 10 home runs and earned 20 RBIs over 15 games, but the team only managed to win 4 of those contests. Aside from Raleigh’s standout performance, no other hitter on the team recorded more than one home run or five RBIs in that period.
This gap in offensive production points to a clear need for Seattle to add more firepower as they await the arrival of promising prospects like Colt Emerson, who is expected to join the major leagues likely next season.
Implications of the Potential Ford-Naylor Trade
If completed, the trade would allow the Mariners to bolster their lineup by acquiring a seasoned first baseman while freeing a path for Ford to develop in the majors elsewhere. At the same time, Arizona would strengthen its catching depth, gaining a major-league-ready player who could compete for playing time soon.
This move reflects the Mariners’ strategy to balance their roster by leveraging Cal Raleigh’s record-breaking home run season while addressing offensive weaknesses through smart acquisitions within the league.