Report: Mariners to make first main signing of offseason

The Seattle Mariners had reportedly thought of retaining first baseman Josh Naylor to be their prime precedence in free company. Their want has reportedly come true.

Within the first main signing of the 2025-26 offseason, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that Naylor and the Mariners are finalizing a five-year contract. In accordance with Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the deal will turn into official as soon as Naylor passes a bodily. Monetary particulars of the settlement have but to be disclosed.

The Mariners acquired Naylor on July 24 with a pair of pitching prospects heading again to Arizona. He had put collectively a stable exhibiting for the Diamondbacks at that time, posting a .292/.360/.447 batting line over 394 plate appearances, hitting 11 homers and 19 doubles whereas stealing 11 bases. Mariners first basemen had mixed for a .223/.293/.376 batting line by way of July 24, rating twenty third within the majors with a .668 OPS.

Josh Naylor helped remodel Seattle Mariners lineup over ultimate two months

Naylor modified that narrative from the second he arrived in Seattle. He thrived within the Mariners lineup, posting a .299/.341/.490 batting line with 9 homers and 10 doubles over 210 plate appearances. His 19 steals over the ultimate two months of the season not solely led the Mariners however had been greater than his profession greatest in a full season. He was the Mariners’ third most dear participant after the commerce with 1.8 bWAR, trailing catcher Cal Raleigh and outfielder Julio Rodriguez.

He made his presence felt within the postseason because the Mariners got here agonizingly near their first World Collection look. Naylor had a .340/.392/.574 batting line over 51 plate appearances in October, hitting three homers and two doubles. 

That playoff run made a reunion potential. After coping with monetary limitations over the earlier two offseasons, possession had given the inexperienced gentle to extend payroll for 2026. Signing Naylor, who had been a significant component within the Mariners’ success in 2025, grew to become a necessity.