Mariners finalizing 5 year contract with Josh Naylor

[HawkandMariner88]

Reportedly in the 5 year $90-100 million range

Good job Mariners. They went public that they wanted him back and then they made it happen early in the off season. Maybe they are learning. I predicted 5 x $90M. Seems I was close. Now sign Okamoto and trade for Donovan.

Why Okamoto? Give me Jarren Duran pretty please. Give them some pitching. Speed kills, guys can you imagine Julio & Duran at the top. Oh my word.

[Donn Beach]

My guess is that this deal is easily the best that Naylor could do on the market. I don't think any other team was coming close to this.

I think that's hard to say, there are teams going to be in the market without too many options. Mets come mind. I think it was a fair price for a guy that was interested in staying

[Seattle or Bust]

I hate it here.

[Pharmabro]

The length of the contract is irrelevant. All that matters is the WAR he generates. If he puts up 10 WAR over the next three years the contract is paid for, forget the last two years.

That's the thing though. Until the last 2 Months he never put up that level of War in his entire career.
2021 -.1 WAR in 69 games
2022 1.7 WAR in 122 games
2023 2.3 WAR in 121 games
2024 1.5 WAR in 151 games
2025 (pre trade) .8 WAR in 93 games.

It seems highly unlikely that some light switch just turned on at age 28 and that we are going to see him put up 10 WAR over the next 3 seasons when prior to getting to Seattle he was never even remotely close to that level of production.

[TLO Idaho]

I hate it here.

Some people hate you "Here" LOL

[bpj]

I don't think WAR isn't a very effective way to judge first basemen because they start in such a hole. The system devalues them like DH's.

Even so, Naylor has been a Top 10 first baseman over the last three years (2023-2025) even by WAR.

Right up there with Pete Alonso. Worth noting that by wRC+, Raley wasn't far behind Naylor's production 121 vs 124 (a lot fewer plate appearances). Thats 21% above league average for Raley's bat compared to Naylor at 24% above.

[Seattle or Bust]

I hate it here.

Some people hate you "Here" LOL

Eh I can't help it that a bunch of overly emotional snowflakes who had their minds warped by Rush Limbaugh in the 90's struggle with critical thinking and believe they're victims. It's amazing how much they claim to be macho but get triggered over the smallest things.

[desbcoach]

Perspective

whatever the case, it feels like the Mariners are getting away with something. Despite the risks, Naylor is only the ninth-most expensive first baseman in MLB in terms of average annual value. He slots behind Christian Walker, who is six seasonal years older and coming off a dismal 0.2 rWAR season.

[Donn Beach]

Perspective

whatever the case, it feels like the Mariners are getting away with something. Despite the risks, Naylor is only the ninth-most expensive first baseman in MLB in terms of average annual value. He slots behind Christian Walker, who is six seasonal years older and coming off a dismal 0.2 rWAR season.

For all the complaining about the mariners unwillingness to spend, they finally step up and now it's about them over spending, go figure. They claimed they were committed to bringing Naylor back and they stepped up and did it. It's what they had to do, and for all the talk about dipoto being hated in the clubhouse he really does have a pretty good record for retaining players.

[D-train]

Reportedly in the 5 year $90-100 million range

Good job Mariners. They went public that they wanted him back and then they made it happen early in the off season. Maybe they are learning. I predicted 5 x $90M. Seems I was close. Now sign Okamoto and trade for Donovan.

Why Okamoto? Give me Jarren Duran pretty please. Give them some pitching. Speed kills, guys can you imagine Julio & Duran at the top. Oh my word.

Because we need a 3B. Imagine the ask for a guy that put up 13.4 WAR the past two seasons, is only 28 yo with 3 years of control left. I would be shocked if he gets traded.