The first major domino of free agency fell Monday, as the Seattle Mariners signed first baseman Josh Naylor to a five-year, $92.5 million deal through the 2030 season.
“I’m going to be a Mariner again and I couldn’t be more excited,” Naylor said in a Mariners press release. “From the moment I arrived, everyone in the organization welcomed and helped me. The players brought me in and loved my game right away, and the fans were incredible.”
“Ensuring that Josh remains a Mariner for the long haul was a priority for us,” Mariners President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto said. “Josh’s intelligence, intensity, toughness, and competitiveness show up every day. He’s simply a winner.”
Midseason Acquisition
The Mariners acquired Josh Naylor from the Arizona Diamondbacks at the trade deadline this year. He hit .299 with nine homers in 54 regular season games to propel the Mariners to their first division crown since 2001. Naylor slugged three homers in 12 playoff games as the Mariners came one win away from the AL pennant.
Naylor became a stolen base threat with the Mariners. One of the slowest baserunners in the league, he used the element of surprise to steal 30 bases on the season, while getting caught just twice.
Strong Core
The Mariners signed Naylor to keep the offense together for next year. In addition to Naylor, Seattle has catcher and runner-up MVP finisher Cal Raleigh, along with outfielder Julio Rodriguez, locked up through the end of the decade. Outfielder Randy Arozarena and shortstop J.P. Crawford will also return in 2026.
The Mariners also have a good pitching unit set for the future. Starters Luis Castillo and Logan Gilbert are with the club for the next two seasons, and starter George Kirby is a free agent entering 2029. In the bullpen, flame-throwing closer Andrés Muñoz is under contract for next year, and then has team options from 2026-28. This is a club that could contend in the American League for the rest of the decade.
Naylor has played seven years in the majors with the San Diego Padres, Cleveland Guardians, Diamondbacks, and Mariners. He’s hit 104 homers and driven in 435 runs in his career. He picked up AL MVP votes in 2023 and was an All-Star in 2024 with the Guardians.
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