Josh Naylor Signs Five-Year, $92.5 Million Deal with Mariners

Josh Naylor secured MLB's first major offseason deal, signing a five-year, $92.5 million contract with the Seattle Mariners. Mariners general manager Justin Hollander lauded Naylor as one of the smartest players he's ever had, citing his perfect 19-for-19 stolen base record in Seattle, a significant leap from his previous career high of 10 steals. Despite being one of MLB's slowest players, Naylor demonstrated exceptional baseball IQ. He proved an even greater offensive force in Seattle, hitting 38% better than league average with nine homers and 19 steals in 54 games to conclude the regular season. In October, he led the team with a .340 batting average and three home runs, contributing to their AL West title and first ALCS appearance since 2001. While the Mariners should temper expectations for his stolen base totals over the next five years, they can rely on his contact and on-base skills. Despite some regression in bat speed and barrel rate, Naylor still ranked among MLB’s top three first basemen in 2025 with a .295 batting average and a 13.7% strikeout rate, consistently playing solid first base. His power, including 51 home runs over the last two years, combined with his on-base skills and plate approach, perfectly complemented a Mariners team that previously struggled with contact and strikeouts.