The Seattle Mariners made a bold move at the trade deadline by acquiring Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suárez, and it proved worthwhile. Both players played key roles in helping the team make a strong postseason run, even though they ultimately fell short of a World Series victory.
Now, however, both of those midseason additions have entered free agency, putting the Mariners in danger of losing them in the same offseason. If Seattle hopes to retain one or both of these stars, the front office will need to be ready to open the checkbook.
The Athletic’s Jim Bowden recently projected Naylor would sign for $90 million over four years in free agency this offseason.
“Coming off a season in which he hit 31 homers and helped lead the Guardians to the ALCS, Naylor was traded last December to the Diamondbacks, who then sent him to the Mariners at the subsequent trade deadline,” Bowden wrote. “Though his home run total dropped from 31 to 20 in 2025, he improved his contact rate considerably and raised his batting average more than 50 points from 2024.
“He also added a ‘speed’ element to his game, using his smarts on the basepaths to steal a career-high 30 bags despite being among the game’s slowest runners. At 28, Naylor has proven he’s a solid middle-of-the-order bat capable of hitting .300 with 20-plus homers. He might not be a superstar, but he’s a solid defender and a winning player who has helped the Guardians and Mariners to playoff berths the last two years.”
Naylor emerged as one of the top first basemen in baseball during the latter part of the season. He displayed impressive power, strong baserunning instincts, and excellent bat-to-ball skills, ranking among the best hitters at his position throughout the year.
Seattle will likely face tough competition in the race to sign him, as several teams are expected to pursue his talent. A four-year, $90 million deal would be within the Mariners’ budget, but it remains to be seen whether they’re prepared to make that kind of investment.
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