Virtually everyone wants to see Josh Naylor back in Seattle next season on a long-term deal — his Mariners teammates, the fans, the media, and even Naylor himself. According to Adam Jude of The Seattle Times, the organization has made it clear that re-signing the 28-year-old will be a major focus this offseason.
That sentiment is understandable after what Naylor accomplished following his trade from the Arizona Diamondbacks late in July. He became a key spark in the Mariners’ clubhouse and, unlike many hitters, actually seemed to thrive at T-Mobile Park. Securing him with an extension would mean a lot to the franchise.
Still, widespread desire doesn’t guarantee it’ll happen. Naylor is set to hit free agency five days after the World Series ends and is expected to draw plenty of interest, especially after his impressive postseason performance — hitting .340 with a .967 OPS over 12 games for Seattle.
Potential obstacles to Mariners re-signing Josh Naylor
As SoDo Mojo’s Jason Wang noted last week, the Mariners may need to shed some payroll to make room for a Josh Naylor extension, which could even mean moving a high-salary player like Luis Castillo. At the same time, Seattle will have to compete with other clubs for Naylor’s signature—since it would only take one massive offer to lure him away.
If Naylor does sign elsewhere, many fans would likely accuse the Mariners of repeating history by failing to spend what’s needed to push the team toward its first World Series berth. Should that worst-case scenario happen, the front office would need a major, franchise-altering move to win back the fanbase—and such an opportunity might exist, according to recent reports.
When someone as credible as MLB Network insider Joel Sherman says he wouldn’t be surprised if Bryce Harper were traded, it’s worth paying attention. FanSided’s Christopher Kline even listed the Mariners among the top potential landing spots for the two-time NL MVP.
However, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski told Jon Heyman of the New York Post that Harper “is not getting traded.” Still, Harper himself voiced frustration over the speculation following a subpar 2025 season.
“I’ve given everything to Philly from day one,” Harper told Matt Gelb of The Athletic. “Now there’s trade talk? I tried to avoid this. It’s the same thing I dealt with in D.C., and I hated it. It makes me uncomfortable.”
While Harper’s original 13-year, $330 million deal may seem intimidating, it’s set to drop to six years and $153 million starting next season—an average of $25.5 million annually, which would likely be below his market value today.
The eight-time All-Star also holds a full no-trade clause, meaning the Mariners might need to sweeten the pot financially to gain his approval. Even then, Seattle would have to craft an offer enticing enough for Philadelphia to seriously consider—such as this potential trade proposal:
Given everything Luis Castillo has meant to the Mariners, this would be the most difficult part of any potential trade to accept. Still, it could serve as a partial salary dump and partial prospect deal that benefits the Phillies while providing fair value for both sides.
As much as fans adore Josh Naylor, the truth is that Bryce Harper is the superior hitter — and overall player — a fact supported by their Baseball Savant metrics from this season. Harper’s extensive track record and wealth of postseason experience further set him apart.
That said, the Mariners should still prioritize re-signing Naylor above all else. But if a reunion somehow falls through, this trade concept at least offers a viable Plan B — provided Seattle is truly ready to demonstrate its commitment to chasing another World Series run.
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