Nationals Trade Jose Ferrer to Mariners for Harry Ford and Isaac Lyon
A blockbuster swap is on the table as the Washington Nationals are sending left-handed reliever Jose A. Ferrer to Seattle in exchange for catcher Harry Ford, with right-hander Isaac Lyon also moving to Washington, according to multiple reports. News of the deal initially surfaced from Andrew Golden of the Washington Post and was later corroborated by Robert Murray of FanSided, with both teams confirming the trade.
Seattle adds a powerful left-handed reliever to bolster the bullpen behind veterans Andres Muñoz and Matt Brash. The price tag is notable, as Ford sits at No. 42 in MLB.com’s top 100 prospects. Lyon, a 2025 10th-round pick, contributed in Single-A last season.
Ferrer emerged as Washington’s closer after Kyle Finnegan was dealt at the trade deadline. Over the final two months, Ferrer posted 11 saves. At 25, his season featured a 21.9% strikeout rate and a middle-4.00s ERA, yet his 2.85 SIERA and an impressive 4.9% walk rate pointed to underlying strength. A stretch of 14 straight scoreless outings after taking over the closer role stood out, though his form faded toward the end of the year.
Since debuting in 2023, Ferrer has logged 142 relief appearances for the Nationals, carrying a career ERA of 4.36. Deep metrics, including xERA and xFIP, have generally painted a more favorable picture, with indicators suggesting better performance than the traditional ERA implies. He’s known for an upper-90s sinker that helps generate ground balls and keeps the hard-hit rate down. Ferrer remains under team control through 2029 and won’t reach arbitration until 2027.
Ford, meanwhile, has been a cornerstone prospect in Seattle since being selected 12th overall in the 2021 draft. He ranked among the Mariners’ top five prospects for several years, climbing to the top spot in 2023 and most recently sitting No. 4. Ford consistently shows offensive aptitude in the minors, with notable speed on the bases.
This past season, Ford hit .283/.408/.460 with 16 home runs and seven stolen bases across Triple-A, while posting a remarkably patient 16.2% walk rate and sub-20% strikeout rate. He made a brief, primarily pinch-hitting appearance with Seattle’s major league club, going 1-for-6 in eight games.
Ford’s power is more gap-to-gap than out-of the-fence homer, but his blend of on-base skills and speed makes him a unique offensive threat for a catcher. At 22, his performance at the higher levels suggests a potential long-term contributor behind the plate.
The move makes sense for Washington, as Cal Raleigh secured a six-year extension prior to the 2025 season, which could limit Ford’s path to regular playing time in Seattle. Washington will deploy Ford as part of a catching group that endured injuries and inconsistent production in 2025. Keibert Ruiz’ concussion issues limited him to 68 games, and injuries kept him largely out of the lineup after July. Riley Adams absorbed most of the workload behind the plate, with brief stints from Drew Millas and Jorge Alfaro. Washington’s catching corps ranked toward the bottom of the league in OPS last season. Adams is on a one-year split deal, and Alfaro is a free agent.
Lyon, the 21-year-old right-hander, started four games for Modesto last season and will continue his development with Fredericksburg. He is the son of former big-league hurler Brandon Lyon.
Photo: Rafael Suanes, Imagn Images
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