The Seattle Mariners had an outstanding season, ranking among the top teams in baseball, but their World Series hopes ended with a loss to the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Championship Series.
To strengthen their roster, the Mariners made several key moves at the trade deadline, acquiring Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suárez from the Arizona Diamondbacks in separate deals. Both power hitters are now set to enter free agency after spending the latter half of the season with Seattle.
Bringing Josh Naylor back should be the Mariners’ main focus this offseason, given how dominant he was after joining the team. However, his outstanding second-half performance likely drove up his market value significantly.
According to NBC Sports’ Matthew Pouliot, Naylor is projected to land a hefty free-agent deal worth around $125 million over five years. To keep their star slugger, the Mariners may have to move beyond their usual spending comfort zone.
“Naylor is definitely hitting free agency at the right time; his 128 OPS+ was just off his career high, he went a ridiculous 30-for-32 stealing bases despite being one of the slowest guys in the league and his clubhouse rep got a big boost during Seattle’s run to the ALCS,” Pouliot wrote. “Plus, thanks to the midseason trade, he can’t get be saddled with a qualifying offer.”
Josh Naylor was a key contributor for the Mariners, making re-signing him a top priority. While the projected $125 million deal cited by Pouliot is substantial, the Mariners could manage $25 million per season if he maintains this year’s level of production.
However, Naylor is expected to draw interest from other teams. The Boston Red Sox are in the market for a first baseman, as Triston Casas remains an uncertain option for the future. The New York Mets might also pursue a first baseman if Pete Alonso leaves in free agency.
While the Mariners may face a tough challenge in keeping Naylor, re-signing him remains achievable if they’re willing to invest.
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