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Mariners Trade Idea Swaps Cal Raleigh's Backup For Former 31-Home-Run Infielder
Mariners Trade Idea Swaps Cal Raleigh's Backup For Former 31-Home-Run Infielder originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh is having a monumental season, with 26 home runs already in June. Raleigh is on pace for over 60 home runs, which would shatter Salvador Perez's record for a catcher of 48 in 2021.
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On the farm, Mariners No. 5 prospect Harry Ford, also a catcher, is having a resurgence, with a .922 OPS and .315 average.
Ford's MLB trajectory is blocked by Raleigh's success, and one MLB insider has the Mariners, who have Raleigh surrounded by several slumping hitters, dealing Ford for a slugger across the league.
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29)© Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images
Former general manager Jim Bowden identified Diamondbacks first baseman Josh Naylor as a suitable trade target for Seattle, with Bowden saying that just offering Ford alone could get it done.
A Naylor-Ford swap would be advantageous for both sides. Arizona would receive baseball's eighth best catching prospect for Naylor, who is a free agent after the 2025 season, while Seattle receives a resurgent first baseman who would start over Rowdy Tellez.
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Buzz around the Mariners seeking an offensive acquisition reached its peak when Raleigh totaled 10 homers and 20 RBIs in a 15-game stretch where Seattle went just 4-11.
Aside from Raleigh, in that span, no Mariners hitter had more than one home run or five RBIs.
The Mariners clearly are in desperate need of other bats while they wait on Colt Emerson to crack the big leagues likely next year.
In this trade idea, the D'backs part ways with an impending free agent while getting a major-league ready catcher to compete with Gabriel Moreno later this year or at the start of next year.
Related: Mariners Give Logan Gilbert Injury Update Before Red Sox Game
Related: Yankees Predicted To Trade For $66 Million Infielder After Ugly Loss
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
