When the Seattle Mariners traded for Josh Naylor in mid-season, little did they know what the lefty would do for the team. With his consistent bat, timely hits, and reliable traffic generation on the base paths, he brought the Mariners closer than they ever were to the World Series. But as they step into the offseason, many questions loom over the team. The biggest being: Will Naylor return to Seattle? If the rumors are true, the $10.9M star might move to the East Coast.

The threat is coming from the Big Apple. The New York Mets are eyeing Naylor as Plan B for Pete Alonso. This rumor gained serious traction recently when SleeperMets’ X account highlighted a report from MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo. It read: “UPDATE-Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor could be a potential option for the Mets if Pete Alonso departs.” 

After signing a two-year, $54 million contract last winter, Alonso will be exercising his opt-out clause, setting up another round of high-stakes negotiations for David Stearns. If they decide to go with him, well and good. But replacing a player who crushed 38 home runs, logged a 141 wRC+, and almost singlehandedly carried the offense for stretches could be a tough task.

That’s where Josh Naylor fits in.

Naylor would bring a much-needed power bat to the Mets’ lineup, filling the offensive void Alonso would leave behind. His energy, clutch hitting, and clubhouse presence could make him an ideal fit in New York. In 12 playoff games with the Mariners, he hit three home runs, swiped two bases, and posted a 176 wRC+, establishing himself as one of the emotional and offensive engines of that lineup.

Naylor wins points with the gloves, too. Alonso has only registered a positive OAA total once in his career, back in 2021. His defense is unlikely to improve in his 30s. Still, Naylor isn’t Alonso.

His career OPS is 80 points lower. Alonso’s worst career league-adjusted OPS+ total of 122 is close to Naylor’s career high of 130. The decision for Stearns may come down to priorities: does he want elite offense with defensive limitations, or a more balanced player at a lower cost?

Now, as the 2025–26 offseason begins, Seattle faces tough choices amid one of the most competitive markets in years.

With Pete Alonso, Cody Bellinger, and Juan Soto headlining free agency, and teams like the Mets, Red Sox, and Cubs bidding for first base power, Naylor’s future could shape both the Mariners’ lineup and the league’s balance of power.

Naylor, the Miami Marlins’ 12th draftee in 2015, who played for the Padres, Guardians, and Diamondbacks, came to Seattle in the last trade deadline. And after a nice season at Arizona with .292/.360/.447 output, Naylor continued in the remaining 53 games for Seattle with a .299/.341/.490 slash line and finished the season with .295/.353/.462, an .815 OPS, 20 home runs, 92 RBI, and 30 stolen bases. Then, in 12 postseason games, he hit .340 with three home runs and a .966 OPS.

This is why the Mets are so interested.

Anthony DiComo explained that outside of Alonso, Naylor is the best first baseman on the open market. As per this site‘s report, “Widely praised for his makeup, Naylor is also a solid defender who has produced positive outs above average totals at first base every year since he began playing the position in 2020.”

And for Seattle, Naylor isn’t their only problem.

More big names are set to leave

The Mariners also face losing third baseman Eugenio Suárez, who was a huge power boost after his mid-season trade. Suárez finished the season with 49 home runs and 118 RBI, and delivered an iconic moment in the ALCS Game 5, when he crushed a go-ahead grand slam.

Infielder Jorge Polanco is another key free agent. Polanco, who hit .265 with 26 home runs during the season, was one of the team’s best bargains. And like Suárez, he created iconic postseason moments when he hit two solo home runs in Game 2 of the ALDS and delivered a walk-off RBI single in the 15th inning of ALDS Game 5 to create the biggest moment of their playoff run.

If Naylor leaves, the Mariners do not have an easy internal fix. Prospects like Colt Emerson, Harry Ford, and Cole Young are the future and are expected to impact soon, but they don’t play first base. The highest-ranked first base prospect is Tyler Locklear, but he is not ready and cannot replace Naylor’s All-Star production immediately.

The free-agent market has big names like Alonso, Bellinger, who can offer elite offense but demand massive contracts. The team can also look at veteran options like Paul Goldschmidt, Josh Bell, and former Mariner Ty France, who will be available. A major wild card is Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami from the international market, who will also be available in the upcoming winter.

After finishing their postseason run that fell short against the Jays, the Mariners have some huge pieces of the puzzle to solve before their next season, which will define their future.