Mariners make biggest free agent move yet, re-signing Josh Naylor A five-year agreement was reached. The $92.5MM commitment is undoubtedly the largest commitment they have made to a free agent hitter in the decade Jerry Dipoto has been running baseball. Seattle continues its goal of retaining as much of its 2025 roster as possible, and Dipoto told reporters at a news conference announcing Naylor’s trade that the team remains interested in re-signing Jorge Polanco.
“Polo is a great guy and we’ve been in constant contact with him and his (agency),” Dipoto said (link via Adam Jude of The Seattle Times ). “I don’t think it’s going to grow as fast as Josh did.” Seattle hasn’t closed the door on bringing in either Eugenio Suarez”, wrote Jude, but Polanco seemed to get more attention.
Last winter, Seattle paid $6MM to bring the transition playmaker back to the team. They were rewarded for believing his poor performance in the 2024 season was due to a meniscus injury in his left knee. Polanco hit 26 homers with a .265/.326/.495 batting line in 524 games. He spent most of his time at designated hitter to stay healthy, but got more regular runs at second base in September and into the postseason.
Polanco will get a stronger contract this time around. He was locked up for at least two years. MLBTR projects he will receive a three-year, $4MM deal covering his age-32-34 seasons. Prior to signing Naylor, that price point would have been the biggest deal the M’s had made for a free agent hitter under Dipoto. Even if Naylor is set to make $16.5MM next season ($10 salary plus $6.5MM signing bonus), there appears to be room in the budget for a similar mid-level free agent deal.
Ryan Bliss, Cole Young and Leo Rivas A second base option for now. Top infield prospects Colt Emerson That’s coming after hitting .285/.383/.458 among the top three minor leaguers as a 19-year-old. Emerson seems more likely to break out at third base, where a light hit Ben Williamson Project as a starter. That could change if the Mariners are unable to re-sign Polanco and end up focusing on Suarez.
