The Seattle Mariners have made an unusual move, striking a deal to acquire left-handed reliever José Ferrer from the Washington Nationals in exchange for catcher Harry Ford and pitcher Isaac Lyon, according to reports.
This marks the second straight offseason in which Washington has dealt a young, controllable lefty reliever with a high ERA but strong underlying metrics. Last year, the Nationals traded Robert Garcia, who posted a 4.22 ERA but elite peripherals in 2024, to Texas for Nathaniel Lowe. Garcia had five years of control left; Ferrer now heads to Seattle with four years remaining after recording a 4.48 ERA, 3.03 FIP, and 3.60 xERA over 72 appearances in 2025.
While the Nationals’ return for Garcia looked solid at the time, the trade ultimately fizzled Lowe struggled, was released before the 2025 season ended, and is now a free agent after a brief stint in Boston.
Seattle’s move appears even more surprising. The club parted with Harry Ford, its 2021 first-round pick and a consensus top-100 prospect in recent years. Although the initial reaction suggests the Mariners paid a premium for a non-elite reliever, Ford’s value has dipped. After a disappointing 2024 campaign that knocked him out of top-50 status, he rebounded in Triple-A Tacoma but still faces questions about his defense and power.
Another factor: Seattle already has its franchise catcher in Cal Raleigh, a home-run-hitting cornerstone under team control through 2031. Even if Ford reached starting caliber, he had no clear path to that role with the Mariners.
Washington, meanwhile, also has a long-term catcher in Keibert Ruiz, but his offensive production has cratered over the past two seasons. With Ruiz and Riley Adams struggling, the rebuilding Nationals can afford to give Ford opportunities—either as a catcher or elsewhere on the field if his bat develops.
All told, it’s still a significant price for Seattle to pay, but such is life in the trade market.
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