One of the Seattle Mariners most promising minor leaguers over the last several seasons will attempt to make a major league impact with another organization.

The Mariners traded top 100 catching prospect Harry Ford to the Washington Nationals on Saturday in return for left-handed reliever Jose Ferrer.

Ford was tied to trade rumors for years because of Seattle's roster construction.

The Mariners' starting catcher, Cal Raleigh, finished second in the American League MVP race this past season and set the MLB single-season home run record by home runs by a catcher and a switch-hitter with 60.

For the last two seasons, Raleigh has been backed up by 2023 World Series champion Mitch Garver, who signed a two-year contract with Seattle before the 2024 season. There has been little room for Ford, and even with Garver now a free agent, Ford was clearly still blocked by Raleigh's presence.

Ford made his major league debut in 2025 but received just six at-bats, and with top prospect Luke Stevenson also in the organization, there was no guarantee that he was going to have a long-term runway.

Seattle had a need for a high-leverage reliever and Ford will now have an opportunity with the Nationals to contribute on a major league roster.

Ford has been with the Mariners since the organization selected him in the first round of the 2021 MLB Draft.

In that time, Ford was a three-time MLB All-Star Futures competitor, competed for Great Britain in the 2023 World Baseball Classic and won the Texas League championship in 2024 with the Double-A Arkansas Travelers.

After the trade was made official, Seattle bid farewell to Ford in a a post on "X."

"From the farm to the bigs, to your work on the field and in the community, thank you for everything, (Harry Ford)! Wishing you the best of luck with the Nationals."

This past season in the minor leagues, Ford scored 68 runs in 97 games with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers, and he hit 18 doubles and 16 home runs with 74 RBIs. He slashed .283/.408/.460 with an .868 OPS.

With Ford now no longer with the organization, the Mariners are now without a backup catcher for 2026. Seattle Times reporter Adam Jude reported that Seattle is open in bringing back Garver in that role.

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