The initialist Josh Naylor and the Seattle Mariners have reached an agreement for a five-year contract, according to sources close to the team. This move marks the first major signing of the baseball offseason, solidifying Naylor’s presence on a team that had identified him as a priority for free agency.
Naylor, acquired by the Mariners at the trade deadline, had an immediate impact on the team, both offensively and defensively and on the bases. His arrival strengthened a position that had been a weak point for Seattle.
The five-year agreement, subject to a physical examination, unites Naylor with Seattle’s strong core, which led the team to the American League Championship Series. He joins Cal Raleigh, runner-up for the American League MVP, star center fielder Julio Rodríguez, and a solid pitching rotation, in their attempt to reach the first World Series in franchise history.
With his contagious energy, Naylor quickly found his place in Seattle. In 54 games with the Mariners, he batted .299/.341/.490 with nine home runs, 33 RBIs, and 19 stolen bases in 19 attempts. In addition, his defense at first base was solid, helping the Mariners win their first division title since 2001. In 12 postseason games, he batted .340 with three home runs.
Adding to the 93 games with the Arizona Diamondbacks this season, Naylor, a left-handed hitter, had a .295/.353/.462 average with 20 home runs, 92 RBIs, and a career-high 3.1 WAR. With exceptional contact skills, Naylor ranked among the top 20 in the lowest strikeout rate among qualified hitters.
A surprising aspect of Naylor’s season was his effectiveness on stolen bases, with 30 of 32 successful attempts, despite being one of the slowest runners in the Major Leagues. He often took advantage by walking from first base and had a perfect stolen base percentage with Seattle, even as teams became more aware of his tactics.
The Diamondbacks had acquired Naylor last offseason from the Cleveland Guardians, where he hit 31 home runs in 2024 and was selected for the All-Star Game. Throughout his seven-year career, Naylor has batted .269/.329/.447 with 104 home runs, 435 RBIs, and 55 stolen bases, participating in four postseasons.
Originally selected in the first round as the number 12 pick by the Miami Marlins in 2015, Naylor is the oldest of three brothers who play baseball. Bo Naylor, selected 29th overall in 2018, is a catcher with the Guardians, and his younger brother, Myles, was the number 39 pick in 2023 and is a third baseman in the Athletics system.
