Naylor’s $92.5M Mariners Deal Alters Red Sox’s Pursuit of Pete Alonso, Escalating Price to $180M.vc
(BOSTON) — The Boston Red Sox’s turbulent offseason took another strategic hit this week as first baseman Josh Naylor agreed to a five-year, $92.5 million deal with the Seattle Mariners. While Naylor was never the Red Sox’s primary target, his early signing has created a major “domino effect,” directly escalating the financial barrier in Boston’s widely speculated pursuit of free-agent slugger Pete Alonso.
Naylor’s deal removes a potential high-quality fallback option for the Red Sox and, more significantly, sets a new floor for the first-base market, strengthening Alonso’s negotiating position.
The Naylor Benchmark: Price of Power Rises
Naylor, a strong but not elite slugger, securing a contract nearing the $100 million mark sends a clear message to the New York Mets’ star.
- Naylor’s Deal: 5 years, $\sim\$92.5 \text{ million}$.
- Alonso’s New Floor: Industry insiders now believe Alonso, a three-time 40+ home run hitter, Silver Slugger winner, and perennial durable star, is highly likely to command a contract in the range of 6–7 years and between $\mathbf{\$160 \text{ million} \text{ and } \$200 \text{ million}}$.
The Red Sox, who desperately need a middle-of-the-order power bat after trading Rafael Devers last season and potentially losing Alex Bregman, now face a much higher buy-in price than anticipated.
Red Sox’s Mixed Signals and Internal Conflict
The Red Sox’s interest in Alonso is undeniable. Sources indicate that if Boston fails to bring back Alex Bregman, an “all-out pursuit” of the “Polar Bear” will commence. Furthermore, some voices within the Red Sox’s “inner circle” reportedly prefer Alonso over other available sluggers like Kyle Schwarber.
However, the team is sending “mixed signals” due to the presence of first baseman Triston Casas, who showed flashes of brilliance but struggled with injury in 2025.
- The Casas Conundrum: Acquiring Alonso would essentially box out Casas, forcing the Red Sox to potentially move him or commit him strictly to DH—a role currently occupied by Masataka Yoshida, creating a crowded mess.
- The Price vs. Need: Craig Breslow must weigh the immediate, transformative power Alonso offers against the long-term, expensive commitment that contradicts the organization’s recent emphasis on financial flexibility.
With Naylor now off the board, the Red Sox have fewer mid-tier options to pivot to. They are forced to either commit to paying Alonso’s newly inflated price tag or risk entering the 2026 season without the proven power bat the fanbase is demanding.
