MLB free agency has officially begun, and the first high-profile signing comes out west in Seattle. The Mariners are finalizing a deal with Josh Naylor to keep the 28-year-old first baseman in Seattle for five seasons. ESPN’s Jeff Passan was the first to break the news.
Josh Naylor is one of the best slugging first basemen in MLB and quickly became a fan favorite in Seattle after being traded from the Arizona Diamondbacks. It was known at the time that Naylor was on an expiring contract, and Mariners’ executive Jerry Dipoto made the decision to secure Naylor’s services long-term.
Josh Naylor has played for three teams in the last two seasons but has become known for his passionate play and power at the plate. While the financial details of the deal have not yet been announced, they are expected to surface in the coming days. The contract will become official once Naylor passes a physical.
In 147 games between the Mariners and Diamondbacks last season, Naylor hit 20 home runs and drove in 92 runs. In 2024, he earned a spot on the All-Star team and hit 9 home runs in 54 games with Seattle. Over his 745 career games, Naylor has totaled 104 home runs and holds a .269 career batting average.
Naylor may have been eligible for a qualifying offer, but because he was traded mid-season, this makes him ineligible for the $22 million qualifying offer. Industry insiders speculate that his new contract could be worth anywhere from $75 million to $90 million. This would place him among the highest-paid first basemen in MLB, though still a step below elite names like Freddie Freeman, Matt Olson, and Bryce Harper.
### Signing Josh Naylor Was a Priority for the Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are coming off one of the best seasons in franchise history. They won the AL West for the first time in over 20 years and advanced to the ALCS, where they ultimately lost to the Toronto Blue Jays.
The team’s success was largely driven by A. Cal Raleigh and the starting rotation, but the addition of Josh Naylor solidifies their lineup even further. With Naylor on board, Seattle boasts a solid core lineup featuring Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez, Randy Arozarena, and now Naylor.
Looking ahead, Seattle’s front office still faces important decisions regarding third baseman Eugenio Suarez and middle infielder Jorge Polanco. Signing Naylor may be the first step in retaining the core group into the 2026 season.
If the Mariners can keep their key players together, they will be among the favorites to contend for the AL Pennant in 2026.
https://heavy.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-finalizing-contract-with-josh-naylor-on-five-year-deal/
