10:36pm: Adam Jude of the Seattle Occasions reviews that whereas the Mariners and Guardians have certainly mentioned Naylor, it’s not anticipated that Cleveland will deal him to Seattle after offloading the Gimenez contract. That aligns with Lloyd’s earlier reporting that Cleveland appeared more and more more likely to maintain Naylor.
1:26pm: Because the Mariners seek for first base upgrades this winter, they’ve had some talks with the Guardians about Josh Naylor, per Jon Morosi of MLB Community. There’s no indication the 2 events are in any kind of superior negotiations, however the match is a pure one for an M’s membership trying to enhance its offense and a Guardians squad that has been open to provides on Naylor and outfielder Lane Thomas as they enter their last seasons of membership management.
Naylor, 27, is projected by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz to earn $12MM this coming season earlier than reaching free company subsequent winter. He’s recent off a career-high 31 homers and a .243/.320/.456 batting line (118 wRC+) with a 9.2% stroll charge and only a 16.6% strikeout charge. The Mariners have been vocal over the previous year-plus about eager to reduce on their teamwide strikeout charge. Including energy and concurrently decreasing strikeout charge are sometimes at odds with each other, however Naylor is the kind of bat who may also help them obtain each objectives concurrently.
A commerce of Naylor for a Cleveland membership that simply re-signed Shane Bieber and is clearly intent on contending in 2025 may appear counterproductive at first look, however the perennial tightrope stroll of buying and selling high quality veterans for younger expertise whereas nonetheless attempting to discipline a profitable membership is nothing new for the Guards. They only unloaded Andres Gimenez and his contract in what amounted to a three-team commerce bringing hard-throwing righty Luis Ortiz to Cleveland from Pittsburgh. That dropped their anticipated payroll to round $97MM, per RosterResource. Shedding Naylor would scale that again to $85MM whereas opening time for Kyle Manzardo at first base (and maybe creating extra room for some smaller-scale free agent additions).
On the identical time, it ought to be famous {that a} commerce of Naylor isn’t a foregone conclusion. The Athletic’s Jason Lloyd wrote not too long ago that he’d gotten the sense a commerce of the slugging first baseman was changing into much less doubtless, because the Guards weren’t impressed with something supplied up by different golf equipment. (A single textual content or telephone name can change that, after all.) Understandably, Cleveland isn’t going to maneuver a participant of Naylor’s potential simply to shed payroll; they’d have to really feel they’re getting authentic worth in return — particularly since with a season corresponding to his 2022-24 showings, a then-28-year-old Naylor will likely be a qualifying supply candidate subsequent offseason.
For the Mariners, Naylor would offer a lift to a membership that noticed Justin Turner attain free company at season’s finish. Turner was the membership’s major first baseman down the stretch final 12 months after a deadline commerce bringing him to Seattle. The M’s have Luke Raley as an choice at first base, however he may additionally combine into the outfield and at designated hitter. Prospect Tyler Locklear is prepared for an enormous league look, however a postseason hopeful just like the Mariners won’t wish to simply hand first base to an unproven 24-year-old who posted league-average numbers in Triple-A final season and slashed .156/.224/.311 with a 41% strikeout charge in his first 49 MLB plate appearances.
The M’s even have curiosity in bringing both Turner or veteran Carlos Santana again to Seattle. (Santana performed with the M’s in 2023.) The group’s prime precedence in the mean time appears to be upgrading at first base, then including assist at both third or second base — doubtless the previous. In-house choices like Dylan Moore, Ryan Bliss and (finally) prime prospect Cole Younger may think about at second base if the top result’s upgrading at each corners.
Naylor’s projected wage doubtless suits inside the Mariners’ reported finances — about $15MM to spend, give or take, per Adam Jude of the Seattle Occasions — however in all probability doesn’t depart room for one more notable addition. The Mariners would certainly like to discover a option to unload the contracts of Mitch Haniger $15.5MM in 2025) and/or Mitch Garver ($12.5MM in 2025), however both could be a tall job. The presence of these cumbersome contracts, coupled with a second offseason headlined by a decent finances from possession, make one other spherical of trades from the ever-active Seattle entrance workplace likelier than a collection of free-agent splashes aimed directly once more revamping an offense that has struggled to supply in a extremely pitcher-friendly setting.
