ESPN’s Jeff Passan called him “a high-average, low-strikeout slugger whose quality at-bats would help transform a solid Seattle lineup into something more.” That was the pitch before the Mariners traded for Josh Naylor in July, sending pitchers Brandyn Garcia and Ashton Izzi to Arizona. And he didn’t disappoint as he posted an OPS of .966 in the postseason, becoming a key player for the Mariners. However, with the disappointing end to the postseason, attention is now on next summer’s roster. Now that his one-year, $10.9M deal has ended, the whispers about his future are getting louder, and his teammates just added fuel to those whispers.

What made Naylor’s arrival so transformative was how he complemented what Cal Raleigh already brought to the table. Raleigh provided the power, and Naylor gave them the consistency at first base. Together, they formed the kind of one-two punch that championship teams are built around. The 28-year-old went a perfect 21-for-21 in stolen bases after joining the Mariners. The question is now whether they will re-sign him.

Well, there’s no confirmation from the front office, but the locker-room signs are unmistakable. Recently, a photo of Naylor made the rounds on social media, and three Mariners stars couldn’t help but make their feelings known in the comments section. Bryan Woo commented, “my favorite player’s favorite player.” Bryce Miller wrote, “we gotta find Jim 😤,” and J.P. Crawford took a fun jab, “my dog 4L!! 🐶.” That kind of public display of affection shows that it’s not just about his stats; Naylor is an important part of how the players view themselves and how they want to move the Mariners ahead.

At the same time, Jerry Dipoto told the public to stop making decisions for now. “It’s obviously a priority,” he added, “and we will take a step back from where we are before we truly assess. We’ll communicate with the players before we say anything publicly, but you know, we’re still in grief mode and so are they. We loved every moment with those guys and with others who are pending free agents.” That tone behind the scenes shows how much Seattle values Naylor, both on and off the field.

Naylor, on the other hand, seems to want to stay. “I feel comfortable everywhere, to be honest. But I just really enjoy playing here,” he remarked. “Coming here as an opponent, I thought it was a super-cool stadium. The fans were always electric. And I think you see [the ball] well here, personally.”

The 28-year-old is expected to sign a four-year, $60M contract. While this isn’t excessive in today’s market, it’s a significant commitment for the typically cautious Mariners organization.

But here’s what they can’t ignore: Naylor didn’t just help the Mariners win games. He helped them win the division. And most importantly, he earned the respect of every teammate in that clubhouse. And amidst that, there’s another voice from the front office that aligns with the clubhouse.

Eyes on stability: Seattle signals they want first base anchored

After the team lost in October, the talk over Josh Naylor’s contract has been louder, and now the front office is adding fuel to the fire.

Jerry Dipoto, the Seattle Mariners’ head of baseball operations, has made it pretty apparent that keeping Naylor is important to him. Now, Justin Hollander, the general manager, has joined that group. “He fits in great,” Hollander said recently. He further mentioned, “Josh just got two months, plus the playoffs, of what Seattle was like as a sports town. The best thing that you can hope for when you acquire someone is they go play great. You go deep in the playoffs. They love it and want to be here. And I think we checked all those boxes, so we’ll try and figure it out.”

The Mariners are the only major league team that hasn’t played in the World Series yet. This makes the “unfinished business” motif even stronger this offseason. They realize what they didn’t finish this summer, and it’s obvious in how they’re going to handle the upcoming negotiations: by building on what they’ve already done instead of starting over. Putting Naylor first now sends a clear message: we’re not reloading; we’re doubling down.

With the front office coming on the same page about keeping Taylor on the roster, it reflects respect for his contributions to Seattle’s future. He quickly adapted, stabilized the middle of the order, and improved the clubhouse atmosphere. The Mariners are clearly signaling their intention to take action. It’s just a matter of time — the picture of his deal will become clear in a few months.