Every reason Seattle Mariners 'have to have Josh Naylor' back

With the Seattle Mariners’ season coming to an end Monday night, the focus is starting to shift to what will be an important offseason.

And as soon as that shift began in earnest, there was one thing on the minds of Seattle Sports’ hosts: bringing back Josh Naylor.

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The Mariners picked up the veteran first baseman in late July in a pre-trade deadline deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, and he quickly made an impact.

That came with the bat, as he hit .299 with an .831 OPS in 54 regular season games with Seattle.

It came with the glove, where he proved adept at making impressive picks and showed great flexibility at first base.

It, surprisingly, came with his feet, as he stole an astonishing 19 bases on 19 attempts despite ranking as the second-slowest player in MLB and never having a year with more than 10 steals before in his seven major league seasons.

And then there is his leadership, no-nonsense attitude, and the things he said that endeared the pending free agent to the fan base.

“I can’t remember falling for a player in 2 1/2 months the way we have for Naylor,” Brock Huard said to co-host Mike Salk during Wednesday’s edition of Brock and Salk. “… After these two months – it’s been really since at least doing this job with you for 17 years – I can’t remember a player that has just captivated the imagination. I don’t even want to imagine what it’s like if he’s not on this roster. I mean, they have to have Josh Naylor. That’s priority one, two and three.”

Huard was echoing sentiments made Tuesday on Bump and Stacy.

Michael Bumpus called pursuing a new contract with Naylor the “easiest decision to make” for the Mariners, especially after he led Seattle with a .340 batting average while hitting three home runs and two doubles in 12 postseason games.

“He was probably the most reliable bat when it comes to putting balls in play this postseason,” Bumpus said.

Stacy Rost explained the importance of what Naylor brought to the table for the Mariners.

“It’s not just about the stats. It’s about the energy he brings, the edge he brings. You need that attitude,” Rost said. “You need more dogs in that clubhouse. You do. And that’s not a slight on anyone who’s there. This team was special this year. My heart is broken for these players who did everything they possibly could. But I think this club is much better, and was clearly better, with Naylor. … He’s an exceptionally smart player.”

Bumpus had an interesting way of describing the type of player Naylor is.

“He’s the guy that everyone loves on your team and that everyone hates on the opps.”

‘Interest on our end’

For the record, the Mariners haven’t been shy in talking about their desire to re-sign Naylor.

“There is interest on our end and I believe that there is interest on Josh’s end,” Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said in September on the MLB Trade Rumors Podcast.

Mariners general manager Justin Hollander also spoke to that when he joined Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob on Sept. 24, a day after Naylor hit the go-ahead double in an M’s win that clinched a spot in the playoffs.

“He couldn’t be a better fit in every way on the field, in the clubhouse,” Hollander said. “His baseball IQ is off the charts. His personality, his edge, his grit, his sense for when to do certain things in the game – it’s just all top of the scale. It’s a great fit on our team. We’ve loved having him so far, I hope he’s here a lot longer.”

As for Naylor, he told Wyman and Bob in August how much he and his family were enjoying their time in Seattle. And he also said he thinks T-Mobile Park, which ranks as the hardest stadium in all of MLB to hit in, is a hitter’s park – something he continued to back up with his numbers at home. He slashed .360/.408/.607 for a 1.015 OPS in 26 games at T-Mobile Park this season, which has to be the biggest reason of all for the Mariners – and perhaps Naylor – to be interested in him remaining in blue and Northwest Green in 2026.

Every reason Seattle Mariners ‘have to have Josh Naylor’ back

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