The Seattle Mariners are having a solid season and find themselves in postseason contention.
At 48-44, Seattle sits six-and-a-half games back from the Houston Astros for first place in the American League West and are tied with the Boston Red Sox for the third AL Wild Card spot.
All eyes have been on catcher Cal Raleigh, who is having a historic offensive season and is on pace to shatter offensive catcher records.
He is firmly in the Most Valuable Player conversation with Aaron Judge and has put the Mariners on his back.
Seattle will need to address first and third base to lengthen the lineup and give Raleigh some support.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan put together his top moves for contenders, including the Mariners upgrading at first base and possibly third base.
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Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Josh Naylor would be a great fit for the Mariners and add thump to the middle of the lineup.
“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,” wrote Passan. “Naylor is a high-average, low-strikeout slugger whose quality at-bats would help transform a solid Seattle lineup into something more.”
Naylor, 28, has put together an All-Star caliber season in his first with Arizona. The 2024 All-Star has 11 home runs and 58 RBI while slashing .296/.357/.465 in 83 games.
Passan believes the Mariners have a good enough farm system to not only pry Naylor from Arizona, but his corner infield counterpart Eugenio Suárez as well.
“Pairing him with Eugenio Suárez would plug both of Seattle’s holes, and certainly the Mariners have the prospect capital to pull off the double,” Passan said. “Upgrading the lineup is the distinct priority over the next three weeks, and executives expect Seattle to act aggressively.”
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