Just a month has passed since the Seattle Mariners saw their 2025 campaign end in crushing fashion, but the path toward the 2026 season has already taken a promising and energetic direction. The organization wasted no time in securing one of its core pieces, bringing back Josh Naylor not just for next season but for four additional years after that. In doing so, the Mariners essentially fulfilled a commitment they had long expressed to their fan base: no matter the obstacles, they were determined to retain their All-Star first baseman.
Re-signing Naylor felt less like a bold gamble and more like an inevitable move. It was a decision that aligned perfectly with the front office’s philosophy, and it didn’t require the team to stretch its financial boundaries to uncomfortable extremes. According to reporting from ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Ari Alexander of 7News Boston, the contract spans five years and lands somewhere between $90 million and $100 million.
If those figures are accurate, the agreement would still fall at least $15 million below the franchise’s largest free-agent contract in the Jerry Dipoto era—the five-year, $115 million deal signed by Robbie Ray. Even if Naylor’s contract averages out to about $20 million annually, Seattle would still have considerable payroll flexibility. That financial breathing room keeps the door open for the Mariners to remain active in free agency and pursue additional upgrades to strengthen their roster.
And that’s exactly why the buzz around their next potential target has already begun to grow. With Naylor’s situation settled, attention naturally shifts to who could be the next major addition. One name fits particularly well: Jorge Polanco. The implication is clear—the Mariners have both the capacity and the motivation to continue improving the team, and Polanco seems like the logical next player to consider as Seattle looks to build a more complete and competitive roster for 2026 and beyond.
Mariners have an obvious reunion to make next after finalizing a 5-year deal with Josh Naylor
The Seattle Mariners never tried to hide their intentions regarding Josh Naylor. From the moment the 2025 season ended, the organization signaled almost theatrically that bringing back the All-Star first baseman was a top priority. Their public stance bordered on dramatic, leaving no doubt that they viewed Naylor as essential to their immediate future. Yet, despite all the noise around Naylor, early offseason speculation suggested that he might not actually be the most probable returning player from last year’s roster. Instead, many insiders believed that Jorge Polanco was likelier to re-sign, and that possibility still sits very much on the table.
There is no denying Naylor’s tremendous impact after the Mariners acquired him from the Arizona Diamondbacks in July. Once he arrived, he quickly established himself as the club’s third core star alongside Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez. In just 54 games as a Mariner, Naylor produced a robust 138 OPS+, launching nine home runs and swiping 19 bases.
His blend of power, speed, and intensity injected new life into Seattle’s clubhouse and helped push the team to the top of a crowded AL West. And as strong as his regular-season performance was, he elevated his game even further in October. Across Seattle’s deep playoff run, which stretched all the way to Game 7 of the ALCS, Naylor posted a .967 OPS and consistently delivered in pivotal moments.
Still, Polanco’s contributions should not be overshadowed simply because Naylor arrived with fireworks. While Naylor provided a second-half jolt, Polanco was a steady force from Opening Day through the end of the year. Appearing in 138 games, Polanco delivered a career-best 134 OPS+, piling up 30 doubles and 26 home runs while splitting time between designated hitter and second base.
He was not a one-month wonder or a short-term spark; he was an integral part of Seattle’s offensive engine all season. And like Naylor, he shined in the postseason. Polanco authored several big moments, including a dramatic two-homer game off Tarik Skubal and a string of crucial run-scoring hits that helped the Mariners stay alive in multiple elimination scenarios.
At age 32, Polanco faced a straightforward decision regarding his $6 million player option for 2026. With the way he hit this past season, accepting such a modest salary would have made no financial sense. Predictably, he declined the option, making himself a free agent for the second consecutive winter. Still, while his bat remains highly valuable, teams are also cognizant of his limitations. His defensive role has shrunk, he’s now largely a DH, and his medical file includes knee surgery from just last offseason. Because of those factors, executives around the league believe that although Polanco will get paid, he will not command an overwhelming contract.
MLB Trade Rumors projects Polanco to receive a three-year deal worth about $42 million. Interestingly, the same outlet accurately predicted the structure of Naylor’s new contract with its estimate of five years and $90 million. Given that track record, it is reasonable to assume that Polanco’s projected figure is at least close to reality. For Seattle, that price point should be workable, especially considering recent reporting from Daniel Kramer of MLB.com. According to Kramer, the Mariners have approximately $30–35 million available to allocate toward new 2026 salaries. That number offers a useful blueprint for how Seattle might structure their offseason.
If Naylor earns roughly $20 million annually under his new deal and Polanco lands around $14 million per season, the two contracts combined would fall neatly within Seattle’s available payroll space. It would not leave a significant surplus for additional large-scale signings, but the Mariners may not need any blockbuster moves beyond retaining these two hitters. Re-signing both would essentially preserve the heart of an offense that carried the team through both the regular season and the playoffs.
Seattle does still have a few openings, most notably at third base following Eugenio Suárez’s departure. However, the organization appears comfortable exploring internal options. Young infielders Ben Williamson and Colt Emerson represent two intriguing candidates to fill the position, either individually or in a shared role. Their development path might accelerate if the Mariners prioritize payroll for higher-impact players like Naylor and Polanco.
As for the bullpen, the front office may seek to add another relief arm, but such a move would likely fall in the “nice bonus” category rather than a critical necessity. The Mariners’ pitching staff already ranks among the better ones in the league, and their relief group has been effective enough that major reinforcements are not mandatory. If retaining Naylor and Polanco constrains the team’s remaining spending power, the club could still head into 2026 with confidence.
Even if the offseason ends here, bringing back Naylor represents a substantial achievement for Seattle. His presence ensures stability in the middle of the lineup, and his performance, personality, and immediate connection with fans make him one of the franchise’s most important players moving forward.
However, the Mariners do not simply want to celebrate an offseason victory; they want to translate it into long-term success. The team still has unfinished business after falling just one game short of the World Series. Their window to compete is wide open, but the decisions they make in the coming weeks will shape whether that window becomes a missed opportunity or the beginning of a sustained championship push.
In the short term, though, Seattle has already accomplished something meaningful. Securing Naylor anchors their offense and signals intent. And if Polanco follows, the Mariners would enter 2026 with two of their most productive hitters locked in, preserving the continuity and firepower that carried them deep into October. For a franchise seeking to build on momentum rather than reset it, that combination could prove invaluable in the seasons ahead.
More ML News:
-
Breaking News: Red Sox Poach $8.6 Million Yankees Star
-
Breaking: Giants kill two birds with one stone in trade with the Cardinals
-
Report: Guardians Trade For Veteran Angels Outfielder In 2-Player Blockbuster Proposal
-
Breaking News: White Sox officially exercised another $20 million contract
-
Breaking News: Red Sox Poach $8.6 Million Yankees Star
-
Breaking News: Mets right-hander garnered trade, finalizes $11.7M blockbuster deal
-
Breaking: Giants to rebuild its bullpen with Yankees All-Star reliever this offseason
Be the first to comment