The Washington Nationals have agreed to trade reliever Jose A. Ferrar to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for catcher Harry Ford and minor league pitcher Isaac Lyon.
While trade speculation has been building around left-handed pitcher MacKenzie Gore heading into winter meetings set to begin next week, the Washington Nationals moved forward with another trade involving another pitcher on Saturday afternoon.
The Nationals are trading left-handed reliever Jose A. Ferrar to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for catcher Harry Ford. Robert Murray of FanSided was first to report the news. Minor league pitcher Isaac Lyon is also expected to head to Washington in the deal.
Ferrar, who is set to turn 26 next month, finished .500 across his eight starts in 2025, adding 11 saves and a 4.48 earned run average in 76 1/3 innings pitched and 72 appearances. The former Nationals pitcher also struck out 71 batters to 16 walks, while allowing left-handed hitters to a .186/.217/.304 slash line in the last season in 110 plate appearances with 26 strikeouts and just two walks.
The departing pitcher stepped in as Washington's closer to close the 2025 season following Kyle Finnegan being traded to Detroit, adding an excellent 2.85 SIERA while posting 14 consecutive scoreless appearances shortly after taking over as closer before ending the season on a sour note.
Ferrar joined the Nationals organization after signing as an international free agent back on July 2, 2017 before making his debut in 2023.
Prior to being called up, Ferrar split the season between Double A Harrisburg, High A Wilimington and Single-A Fredericksburg where he made 48 combined appearances and was selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game.
Ford joins the Nationals' organization as Seattle's first round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, while he made his pro debut this past season despite seldomly playing after being called up. He spent the bulk of his season with Triple-A Tacoma, posting a .283/.408/.460 slash line with 18 doubles, 16 home runs and 74 RBIs in 97 plate appearances.
Lyon, meanwhile, turns 22 next month and was selected in the tenth round of the 2025 MLB Draft out of Grand Canyon University. In four starts with Low-A Modesto, Lyon finished with an 0-2 record and 7.3 earned run average as a rookie.
Ford is ranked the fourth-best prospect in the Mariners' farm system, fourth-best catcher prospect overall and 42nd-best prospect across the league, giving the Nationals a key piece to now add to the 2026 foundation.
The addition of Ford and Lyon becomes the first trade of the offseason for Washington, though president of baseball operations tendered the long list of free agents while also signing Leandre Pineda to a minor league contract. While Ford could bolster the 40-man roster, Pineda is expected to stick in the farm system with the Nationals looking to battle back from a 66-win season.
All eyes will now turn to MacKenzie Gore with trade speculation intensifying in the days ahead of winter meetings with reports that president of baseball operations Paul Toboni has inquired with over half the league and a growing belief it's when, not if, the Nationals ultimately agree to a deal, per ESPN's Buster Olney.