One down, at least one more to go.
It has only been one month since the Seattle Mariners’ 2025 season came to a heartbreaking end, yet the road to 2026 has already taken an exciting turn. Josh Naylor is back for next year and the four seasons after that one, in what amounts to the Mariners keeping a promise they made to fans that, come Hell or high water, the All-Star first baseman would be back.
This is simply how it had to be, and the Mariners didn’t even have to bend their comfort zone to its breaking point to make it happen in free agency. Per separate reports from ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Ari Alexander of 7News Boston, Naylor’s deal is for five years and in the $90-100 million range.
If so, it’s at least $15 million short of Robbie Ray’s five-year, $115 million deal as the largest free-agent contract that the Mariners have handed out in the Jerry Dipoto years. And even if Naylor’s average annual value works out to $20 million per year, that still leaves room in the budget for another significant signing.
Which is pretty much to say: Jorge Polanco, come on down!
Mariners have an obvious reunion to make next after finalizing a 5-year deal with Josh Naylor
Though the Mariners kicked subtlety to the curb and made a big show about wanting Naylor back, there had been buzz that he wasn’t even the most likely member of the 2025 club to re-sign. That was supposed to be Polanco, and it’s a move that should still happen.
Yes, Naylor was hugely instrumental in getting the Mariners to the top of the AL West after he came over from Arizona in July. He was their third star after Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez, posting a 138 OPS+ with nine home runs and 19 stolen bases in only 54 games. And he then kept it going in the playoffs with a .967 OPS in the Mariners’ run to Game 7 of the ALCS.
Yet Polanco was there from the beginning this season, and the end result of his 138-game showing was a career-best 134 OPS+ with 30 doubles and 26 home runs as a full-time DH and part-time second baseman. He was also a proper hero in October, notably with a two-homer game against Tarik Skubal and multiple game-winning RBI.
The 32-year-old Polanco faced a no-brainer in turning down a $6 million player option for 2026, which made him a free agent for the second time in as many winters. Yet due to his age, defensive limitations and recent injury history — he had knee surgery just last winter — the general consensus is that he can only expect so much of a payday.
Per MLB Trade Rumors, Polanco is projected for a $42 million deal over three years. And given that they may have nailed Naylor’s deal with a five-year, $90 million projection, it’s safe to take Polanco’s projection at face value, or at least close to it.
With Daniel Kramer of MLB.com having reported that the Mariners have room for $30-35 million in new salaries for 2026, it’s easy to see how Naylor and Polanco can fit into the same box even at $20 million and $14 million per year, respectively.
That wouldn’t leave much room for more major additions, but the Mariners wouldn’t necessarily need any more if they can retain both Naylor and Polanco. The Eugenio Suárez-shaped hole at third base can be filled by Ben Williamson and/or Colt Emerson. Another reliever, meanwhile, is perhaps more of a nice-to-have than a must-have.
For the time being, the Naylor signing alone has already secured this offseason as a win for the Mariners. Whether that will mean anything in the long run remains to be seen, but you obviously don’t want to lose the offseason when you have as much unfinished business as these Mariners.
