New Mariners slugger Josh Naylor loves pressure. Can he help deliver Seattle a postseason run?

New York Times

5 days ago

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Batting Josh Naylor in the cleanup position is no big deal. After all, as he noted when asked on Friday, 'I (did that) two days ago.'
But, for the Mariners, manager Dan Wilson penciling in their newly acquired first baseman at No. 4 in the order is a signal of the expectations Naylor's presence carries.
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'The way he swings the bat, bringing the experience that he does in the middle of the lineup,' Wilson said, 'the guy knows how to hit in those situations. A guy that's going to have a great approach in those situations.'
Naylor was acquired by the Mariners from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for lefty pitching prospect Brandyn Garcia and righty prospect Ashton Izzi. The Diamondbacks had been telegraphing their intentions to sell, and Naylor's strong season and expiring contract made him a prime candidate to be dealt. The lefty slugger got the call after going out to dinner in Pittsburgh on Thursday night. His relaxing off day suddenly turned into a whirlwind. He awoke at 4 a.m. on Friday for a cross-country flight back to the West Coast.
The 28-year-old walked into the clubhouse around 3:30 p.m. on Friday and walked around introducing himself to teammates, while a clubhouse attendant had him try out different-sized hats.
Coming into the season, offense was the biggest question mark on Seattle's roster. That, however, has been a surprising strength, led by an MVP-caliber season from catcher Cal Raleigh. The Mariners are sixth in MLB in home runs and eighth in OPS.
Looking good in blue. #TridentsUp pic.twitter.com/0Zywtzs0yO
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) July 26, 2025
First base has been a huge weakness, though, even amid a strong offensive campaign. They DFA'd Rowdy Tellez earlier this season, mixing in Luke Raley, Donovan Solano and a few games with Dylan Moore ever since. As a team, the position has produced just a .708 OPS, well below the .807 OPS that Naylor brings.
'I'm just excited to be here,' Naylor said. 'I've heard nothing but great things about this org, about this team, about how hard they play. They're a tough group.'
The narrative entering this season was a near-universal condemnation of the Mariners and their president of baseball operations, Jerry Dipoto, who made almost no external acquisitions to improve a dreadful offense from 2024. With an elite, young starting rotation, it felt like Seattle could be blowing a fruitful competitive window.
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What the team has failed to do in free agency, however, it has made up for in deadline deals. Last season, they acquired Randy Arozarena, who was an All-Star this year. Two years before that, starter Luis Castillo came over from Cincinnati.
Naylor will be relied on to crush right-handed pitching, which he's done this season to an .884 OPS, well above his team's average of .742. And the front office might not be done, as they've reportedly been interested in a reunion with third baseman Eugenio Suárez, also with Arizona.
Naylor's power numbers have been down this season. He has just 11 home runs, compared to 31 during his All-Star season in 2024. But he has improved his on-base numbers, elevating that number up to .360, compared to .320 last year. He's gotten better at hitting four-seam fastballs, batting .328 against the pitch this year, as opposed to .256 last season. He's even stolen 11 bags.
He made a point to say that he likes hitting in Seattle, which is notoriously baseball's most friendly ballpark to pitchers. But he likes the view of the batter's eye, he said, and feels comfortable playing in the Mariners' home park.
'I'm excited to win,' Naylor said. 'I really enjoy impacting players, just being myself and enjoying the day-to-day.'
In a wide-open American League, the Mariners will have as good a chance as anyone to make a deep postseason run, and Naylor could be a big part of that. He's played in three postseasons and is known for hitting clutch home runs.
Josh Naylor crushes a 405 foot solo homer off of Gerrit Cole and celebrated by carrying a baby around the bases.
🎥 @MLB pic.twitter.com/zpGpVW4cL5
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) October 17, 2022
The roster around him is already good. Seattle's starting rotation has dealt with more injuries than it did last year, but Logan Gilbert and George Kirby — both of whom spent time on the IL this year — are healthy, while Bryan Woo and Castillo have been very good.
The Mariners are trying to capitalize on what could be their best chance at a playoff run in 25 years. They remain locked in the second wild-card spot, with just two games separating them from being out of the postseason picture entirely.
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Naylor's presence gives this team the offensive boost it didn't get in the offseason, and it could be the difference between another late-season flameout or a deep run.
'I love the word pressure, I think it's a gift. It's an opportunity,' Naylor said. 'I'm ready to have fun, I'm ready to enjoy the moments with these guys and win and go a long way.'