Insiders name 1B Naylor ideal Seattle Mariners trade target

The MLB trade deadline is now just three weeks away, and the Seattle Mariners figure to be in the market for reinforcements as they prepare for a playoff push.

Insider Jim Bowden drops All-Star closer’s name as Seattle Mariners trade target

Several names have come up as ideal fits for M’s over the past few weeks. One that keeps coming up is Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Josh Naylor, who was named the perfect trade deadline fit for Seattle in an article by ESPN insider Jeff Passan on Thursday.

Here is a snippet of what Passan said about Naylor as a fit for the Mariners.

Though the Mariners are managing with Donovan Solano and Luke Raley at first base, upgrading to Naylor would transform Seattle’s lineup for the better. Whether it’s slotting him behind J.P. Crawford to ensure Cal Raleigh comes to the plate with more baserunners, or sticking him in between Raleigh and Randy Arozarena to do the cleaning up himself, Naylor is a high-average, low-strikeout slugger whose quality at-bats would help transform a solid Seattle lineup into something more.

Naylor, a 28 year old who is set to his free agency after this season, is having a productive season in his first year with Arizona. The left-handed-hitting first baseman entered Thursday batting .296 with an .822 OPS, 18 doubles, 11 home runs and 58 RBIS in 83 games.

Naylor’s 128 wRC+ is 10th among primary first baseman this season. He also ranks in the 92nd percentile of all players with 12.5% strikeout rate.

Meanwhile, the Mariners have lacked consistent production at first base this year. The club is hovering near the middle of the pack with a 104 wRC+ from the position, which ranks 16th in the league. But it’s 23rd with a .237 batting average and 25th with a .292 on-base percentage.

Everyone’s watching the Diamondbacks

During a conversation with Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy on Wednesday, former MLB general manager Jim Bowden also mentioned Naylor as a fit for the Mariners.

“Seattle of course is looking for a big bat either at first base or third base. That’s kind of been their priority,” said Bowden, who also contributes to The Athletic and MLB Network. “… The big question is what bats are going to be available. I mean, that’s what everybody’s asking. And I think everyone’s watching the Arizona Diamondbacks to see if they end up being sellers because, of course, they have two guys that would fit Seattle. Josh Naylor for first base or a reunion with (third baseman) Eugenio Suárez.”

As Bowden mentioned, it remains to be seen if the Diamondbacks will actually sell. The club is still just 4 1/2 games out of a playoff spot, but at 46-47, Arizona is in fourth place in the rugged NL West.

“I’m feeling like the Diamondbacks will get to the deadline and realize their best play is going to be to move them, as long as they’re not really in striking distance of the playoffs,” Bowden said.

“… It’s going to depend on how they play out of the All-Star break, but if they get out the All-Star break an and don’t start to show a lot of improvement, I kind of feel like that’s the direction they need to go and will go.”

Hear the full conversation with Jim Bowden at this link or in the audio player in this story. Tune in to Bump and Stacy weekdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.

Insiders name 1B Naylor ideal Seattle Mariners trade target

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