Josh Naylor Finalizing Five-Year Contract with Mariners After Impactful Season

First baseman Josh Naylor, 28, is finalizing a five-year contract with the Seattle Mariners, a move president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto called a priority after acquiring him from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Naylor became a free agent following the Mariners' ALCS loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Manager Dan Wilson highly praised Naylor's intensity, drive, and significant impact on and off the field during his three months with the franchise. In 54 games with Seattle, Naylor hit .299 with nine home runs, 33 RBIs, and 19 stolen bases. He continued his strong performance in 12 postseason games, batting .340 with three homers, five RBIs, and two stolen bases. For the entire season, Naylor posted a .295 average, 20 home runs, 92 RBIs, and a career-high 30 stolen bases.