ANAHEIM, Calif. — In a significant turn of events, Mariners' manager Dan Wilson received a phone call that many would agree is the best way for a manager to learn about roster changes. However, the rest of the team discovered the news of Josh Naylor’s trade through social media or the updates scrolling on televisions in the visiting clubhouse. Regardless of how the news spread, the arrival of Naylor generated excitement as the Mariners prepared for their Thursday night game against the Los Angeles Angels.
“We were trying to get prepared for a ballgame at the time, so it was a little more subdued, probably, than normal,” Wilson remarked. “But this is huge. I’m looking forward to welcoming Josh into a Mariner uniform. He’s a tremendous player with a tremendous bat, and I’m really excited to see how he fits into this lineup.”
The Mariners kicked off their seven-game road trip with a 4-2 victory over the Angels, marking a momentous occasion with the franchise’s first bold move ahead of the trade deadline. This trade sends a clear message from the front office to the players that the team’s performance thus far warrants investment. They are determined to make a strong push in the final two months of the regular season.
“Playing in October is our goal,” said shortstop J.P. Crawford. “The front office is making moves, and that’s cool to us. We’re going to go out and win some games every night.”
For pitcher Logan Evans, the news of Naylor’s acquisition was bittersweet. While he is thrilled to have a player of Naylor's caliber join the lineup, the trade also meant saying goodbye to a close friend, Brandyn Garcia, who was sent to the Diamondbacks as part of the deal. Evans, who secured the win by pitching five innings on Thursday, managed to stay focused on his pregame preparations despite the unfolding news. He reached out to Garcia with a quick message of support.
“I definitely saw it, but I don’t think it affected me too much. I texted him and just said, ‘Good luck,’ and I’ll give him a call too,” Evans shared.
Pitcher Matt Brash noted that while he and Naylor both hail from Ontario, their baseball paths never crossed. Many players expressed eagerness to get to know Naylor, especially considering his impressive track record against the Mariners. In 35 career games against Seattle, Naylor posted a batting average of .281, an OPS of .811, along with seven home runs and 26 RBIs. Notably, he excelled in a series last month in Arizona, going 8 for 12 with two doubles and a walk-off grand slam.
“I’m very excited to actually talk to him a little bit more,” said Julio Rodríguez. “Every time he plays, he’s always locked in, which is really good to add to the team. I’m very excited.”
In addition to the buzz surrounding player trades, the Mariners’ minor league affiliates are set to gain some airtime, with a selection of games scheduled to be broadcast on ROOT Sports starting in August. A total of fourteen games featuring the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers, Double-A Arkansas Travelers, and Single-A Everett AquaSox will be aired, beginning on August 5th with the Rainiers facing off against the Reno Aces at 12:05 p.m., followed by the Mariners' matchup against the White Sox at 6:40 p.m.
Here’s a complete rundown of the games to be broadcast (all times PT):
Sept. 18 — Tacoma vs. Oklahoma City, 7:05 p.m.Aug. 5 — Tacoma vs. Reno, 12:05 p.m.Aug. 7 — Tacoma vs. Reno, 7:05 p.m.Aug. 20 — Arkansas vs. Springfield, 4:35 p.m.; Everett vs. Spokane, 7:05 p.m.Aug. 21 — Arkansas vs. Springfield, 4:35 p.m.; Tacoma vs. Oklahoma City, 7:05 p.m.Aug. 27 — Everett vs. Eugene, 7:05 p.m.Aug. 28 — Everett vs. Eugene, 7:05 p.m.Aug. 31 — Everett vs. Eugene, 4:05 p.m.Sept. 4 — Arkansas vs. Amarillo, 4:35 p.m.; Tacoma vs. Reno, 7:05 p.m.Sept. 7 — Tacoma vs. Reno, 1:35 p.m.Sept. 16 — Tacoma vs. Oklahoma City, 12:05 p.m.