The Seattle Mariners traded catching prospect Harry Ford and pitching prospect Isaac Lyon to the Washington Nationals for left-handed reliever Jose A. Ferrer on Saturday. The deal addresses Seattle's need for bullpen depth while providing Washington with a potential long-term catcher. Ferrer, who served as Washington's closer after the trade deadline, brings high-velocity stuff to complement the Mariners' late-inning options.
The trade, announced one day before the MLB Winter Meetings in Orlando, Florida, marks an early offseason move for both clubs. Seattle sends away Harry Ford, their No. 4 prospect and first-round pick (12th overall) from the 2021 MLB Draft. The 22-year-old Ford batted .283/.408/.460 with 16 home runs, 74 RBIs, and seven stolen bases in 97 games at Triple-A Tacoma last season. He appeared in eight MLB games as a September callup, going 1-for-6, and was on the Mariners' postseason roster for the ALDS against Detroit and ALCS against Toronto.
In return, the Mariners receive 25-year-old left-hander Jose A. Ferrer, a Dominican Republic native who posted a 4-4 record with a 4.48 ERA, 11 saves, and 71 strikeouts in 76 1/3 innings across 72 appearances in 2025. Ferrer ranked in the 94th percentile for fastball velocity at 97.7 mph, 95th for walk rate at 4.9%, 93rd for barrel rate at 4.8%, and 99th for ground-ball rate at 64.3%. Career-wise, he holds a 4.36 ERA over 142 games since debuting in 2023, with control through 2029 and arbitration eligibility starting in 2027. He took over closing duties after Washington traded Kyle Finnegan to Detroit at the deadline, notching 11 saves in the second half.
For Seattle, Ferrer bolsters a bullpen seeking a second high-leverage lefty to pair with Gabe Speier, following the acquisition of Celeb Ferguson from Pittsburgh last year. The Mariners, who recently signed Josh Naylor to a five-year, $92.5 million deal, now must find a backup for All-Star catcher Cal Raleigh, as veteran Mitch Garver enters free agency and no other catchers remain on the 40-man roster.
Washington gains Ford, MLB's No. 42 prospect, who could challenge or succeed Keibert Ruiz, limited to 68 games in 2025 due to concussions and under contract through 2030. The Nationals' catchers ranked 29th in OPS last season. They also acquire 21-year-old right-hander Isaac Lyon, a 10th-round 2025 draft pick and son of former MLB pitcher Brandon Lyon, who posted a 7.30 ERA in 12 1/3 innings at Single-A Modesto. This is the first significant trade under new Nationals president of baseball operations Paul Toboni.
