First baseman Josh Naylor and the Seattle Mariners have reached an agreement on a five-year contract. The news has been confirmed by sources close to the negotiation, marking a milestone in the baseball offseason.
Naylor, who was 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 solidified a position that had been a weak point for Seattle.
This five-year contract, subject to a physical examination, is the first major signing of the offseason and reinforces Seattle’s solid core, which led the Mariners to the American League Championship Series.
Naylor joins key figures like Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez, as well as a top-tier pitching rotation, with the goal of reaching the first World Series in franchise history.
With his energy and motivation, Naylor quickly became a key element 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 to his excellent offensive performance, he was a solid defender at first base, contributing to the Mariners winning their first divisional title since 2001.
In 12 postseason games, Naylor batted .340 with three home runs.
In addition to the 93 games he played with the Arizona Diamondbacks this year, the left-handed hitter recorded a .295/.353/.462 average with 20 home runs, 92 RBIs, and a career-high 3.1 WAR. Naylor, known for his aggressiveness and contact skills, ranked among the top 20 in terms of lowest strikeout rate among qualified hitters.
A surprising aspect of Naylor’s season was his effectiveness on stolen bases, with 30 stolen bases in 32 attempts, despite being one of the slowest runners in the Major Leagues.
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 twelfth overall pick by the Miami Marlins in 2015, Naylor is the oldest of three brothers who play baseball: Bo Naylor, catcher for the Guardians, and Myles, third baseman in the Athletics system.
