The first free-agent domino of the MLB offseason fell early Sunday evening when senior ESPN insider Jeff Passan announced that fan-favorite first baseman Josh Naylor had re-signed with the Seattle Mariners on a five-year pact reportedly worth between $90 to $100 million. One of the top power bats on the market, Seattle’s “number one priority” according to General Manager Justin Hollander, returns to the Emerald City to fill a big need for the club and gives fans across the region hope that Seattle’s front office is turning the corner from their penny-pinching ways.
Since their crushing defeat against the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Championship Series, both Naylor and team officials were hopeful that a reunion would come to fruition. “ He fits in our clubhouse, positionally, he fills a position of need,” Hollander said during an interview on MLB Radio a little more than 10 days ago. “It’s a real left-handed bat that plays an excellent first base, that runs the bases well. He does a lot of things well. Why wouldn’t you say this would be awesome if we could have Josh in the long term? He fits great, and he’s our priority? It was a great fit for the two months, and we’d like to make it last longer.”
“I just really enjoy playing here”, Naylor said just before the end of the regular season. “Coming here as an opponent, I thought it was a super cool stadium. The fans were always electric. And I think you see the ball well here, personally.”
There’s that Canadian humility we love, Josh. In the 54 games he played after being dealt by the Arizona Diamondbacks, he slashed .299/.341/.490, slugged nine home runs and totaled 19 extra-base hits. He leveled up in the postseason, where he batted .340 with a .967 OPS, including three dingers and five RBI across 12 games as Seattle reached Game Seven of the ALCS.
His overall season numbers were impressive too: .295/.353/.462 slash line, 20 home runs, 92 RBI, and 29 doubles over 147 games. That kind of production, paired with his postseason heroics, made him one of the most coveted position players on the market. MLB Trade Rumors ranked him 12th among the top 50 free agents, and Seattle wasted no time locking him down (a move before December, hallelujah).
Not only did the Canadian slugger add offensive firepower at the cold corner, but he also offered defensive stability (two Outs Above Average, ranked in the 80th percentile) and surprising speed—though he was one of the slowest players in the league, he swiped 30 bases while only getting nabbed twice.
And that’s just what he did on the field. Naylor’s fit in Seattle was seamless—he quickly became a clubhouse favorite and meshed well with their young core, including All-Star Julio Rodríguez, MVP runner-up Cal Raleigh, and one of the deepest pitching rotations in The Bigs. His energy, grit, and clutch hitting gave the Mariners a swagger they hadn’t had in years.
Manager Dan Wilson praised Naylor’s leadership and work ethic, noting that his presence elevated the team’s intensity and focus. For a franchise still chasing its first World Series appearance, keeping a player who thrives under pressure was a no-brainer.
The five-year contract, pending a physical, is expected to be the richest free-agent deal for a position player in Seattle since President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto took over in 2015. It’s a clear indication that the Mariners are ready to invest in winning now—and that they believe Naylor is a key piece of that puzzle.
By locking him in early, Seattle avoids the chaos of the free-agent market (avoiding a bidding war for a bigger name like Pete Alonso, three years Naylor’s senior) and sets the tone for the rest of their offseason. Although the Mariners rank consistently in the top 10 of most baseball publications’ farm rankings, they had no internal options ready to fill the void. With Naylor back in the fold, the Mariners can now focus on adding complementary pieces, possibly targeting bullpen depth, options at second and third base (NPB slugger Muneteka Murakami, fingers crossed), or another outfield bat (like Kyle Tucker, fans hope).
It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, though. Naylor does carry some injury risk, as he’s already had a devastating ankle injury in 2021. While he’s bounced back well since then, long-term durability is always a concern—especially on a multi-year deal. And while he’s been solid at first base, he’s not John Olerud out there. If his bat cools off, he doesn’t offer plus defense or much in the way of positional versatility. And finally, there’s that dreaded R word: regression. The Ontarian had a breakout 2025 campaign, but there’s no guarantee that he sustains that level of production over five seasons. But for a club looking for its first pennant, that’s a risk they must be willing to take.
Seattle’s 2025 season ended just one win shy of a World Series berth. With Naylor re-signed, the Mariners return most of their core and will enter 2026 as one of the favorites in the American League.
The team’s blend of youth, experience, and now continuity gives them a real shot at breaking through. Naylor’s bat in the middle of the lineup, combined with Rodríguez’s star power and Raleigh’s leadership behind the plate, forms a trio that can carry Seattle deep into October.
Josh Naylor’s return isn’t just a smart move—it’s a statement. The Mariners are done rebuilding. They’re ready to win.
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