Mariners reportedly interested in Naylor and what it could mean

As the Mariners look to recover from the damage their reputation has suffered, they’ve apparently considered making a move for Josh Naylor.

There’s no denying Eugenio Suarez, Teoscar Hernandez Mike Ford and Jarred Kelenic all had their challenges and inconsistencies at the plate this past season. However, they collectively still leave a hole in the Mariners lineup which is a cause for concern.

Suarez was second on the team in RBI, Hernandez was third in both home runs and RBI, Ford was fourth in OPS and Kelenic was fourth in OPS+. Of course there’s much more to review when considering the offensive impact of a player, but it still gives you some idea of the significant task facing the Mariners.

The reality is, the Mariners already needed to strengthen their lineup before the four players mentioned all left. Now, the front office will be scrambling to even get back to where they were prior to all the moves.

We won’t repeat all of the bad news which has come out recently, about the direction the Mariners are seemingly headed and how they’re apparently being run. However, it doesn’t change the reality Jerry Dipoto and company need to start making some positive moves as soon as possible, to improve the mood and hopes of the fan base.

This is still a roster with superior pitching and excellent defense. The offense doesn’t have to be one of the very best in the Majors to keep the team in contention, but it does need to be better to improve the overall chances.

An apparent target in Cleveland

Along these lines, an interesting report has come out, about someone the Mariners have been connected with. As per Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com, they are apparently interested in the Guardians’ Josh Naylor.

Naylor is coming off his best year yet in the Majors, to the point he even received some AL MVP consideration. He set single-season bests with 97 RBI, a .308/.354/.489 slash line, 842 OPS and 133 OPS+.

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Clearly this would have been excellent production for a Mariners lineup lacking collective regular production this past season. And taking into account the apparent lack of available funds to improve the roster, the 26-year-old would also come at a reasonable price.

Naylor is projected to make just over $7 million in 2024, in his second year of arbitration eligibility. As things stand, he will become a free agent at the conclusion of the 2025 season.

What about France?

Making this alleged interest in the Mississauga, Ontario native more intriguing, is that he plays first base, which is the same position as Ty France. What impact would bringing in Naylor have on France’s future in Seattle?

There’s no doubt France struggled this past season, following on from a 2022 campaign which saw him earn his first All-Star selection. At the same time however, a player renowned for being a pure, natural hitter, is predicted to return to his previous form in 2024.

As with Naylor, the 29-year-old is in his second year of arbitration eligibility, and projected to earn around $7.9 million in 2024. While not significantly more than his potential new team mate, even that difference of nearly $1 million could potentially impact the Mariners’ decision on his future, if they really are trying to be more careful with the outward cash flow.

It would be preferable to keep France around, even if the Mariners were to add the 2015 12th overall draft pick. For what it’s worth, Naylor does also have decent Major League experience playing in left and right field.

Of course, all of this is dependent on if the Mariners get into serious negotiations about a potential trade and if the Guardians will genuinely entertain any offers. It remains to be seen if the initial interest at this year’s winter meetings develops into anything more worthwhile.

What’s your opinion of the apparent interest in Naylor? Do you want the Mariners to make a move for him, or look elsewhere? Let us know in the comments section below.