With Josh Naylor signed, what else is on Mariners' offseason to-do list?

Adam Jude, The Seattle Times on Nov 19, 2025

Published in Baseball

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SEATTLE — The word of the day from Jerry Dipoto on Tuesday was tenacious.

As in, the Seattle Mariners made a tenacious appeal to Josh Naylor to retain the free-agent first baseman on a new five-year, $92.5-million contract.

Over the next couple months, the team’s president of baseball operations suggested he will have a similar approach to filling out the Mariners’ few remaining roster spots.

“We just finished up what was perhaps the best season in our organization's history,” Dipoto said in a news conference Tuesday announcing Naylor’s signing. “We go into the offseason with a good farm system, an excellent major-league team that just got even more complete today, and we have fewer holes than we've had at any point since we've been together to go fill. We do have (payroll) flexibility to go fill them, and we're pretty tenacious in our desire to go find the right players to make the transactions and to do the things to put the team on the field. …

“So it's an exciting time to be a Mariner, really, from top to bottom.”

The Mariners identified first base as their first priority this offseason, and for several notable reasons. The Mariners simply don’t have any other internal options to play first base, and the free-agent market at the position is fairly thin.

Most of all, Naylor was an ideal fit with the Mariners after coming to Seattle in a July trade from Arizona, and M’s fans responded to Naylor in a way they have never before for a player acquired in a midseason trade.

“I will say, the fanbase’s adoration (for Naylor), that affected us too,” Dipoto said. “The vibe at the end of our season was good as it's ever been with our club, and you want to lean into that.”

Extending to a five-year contract for a 28-year-old slugger in his prime is a worthwhile investment, the club determined.

“We behaved in a way that's a little different than we would normally behave,” Dipoto said. “We would typically survey a market (and ask): ‘Where do we think he fits in in the grander scope?’ On this one, we just knew we wanted him back, so we were willing to do something uncomfortable very quickly.”

As Dipoto sees it, the Mariners are now in an advantageous position with the bulk of the rest of the offseason to work with.

“The fact that we got (Naylor’s deal) done in mid-November allows us to go have an offseason that doesn't feel like we're drinking from a fire hose,” Dipoto said. “Now we can be selective in the things we want to do.”

Dipoto and Mariners GM Justin Hollander have pinpointed two roster areas of specific need: They expect to add one more proven major-league hitter to the middle of the lineup and at least one more proven arm to the bullpen.

On the position player side, the Mariners could add someone who plays third base, second base or fits more as the regular designated hitter.

Free agent Jorge Polanco, coming off a career season with the Mariners in 2025, remains a priority for Seattle’s front office, and Polanco’s switch-hitting tool and his ability DH or play second base makes him a particular fit for the M’s.

Polanco, 32, will have a more robust market than he did was a year ago, when he settled for a one-year contract (with a vesting option) to return to Seattle.

“‘Polo’ is a great guy, and we have been in touch with him and his people,” Dipoto said. “I don't imagine that it's going to move as fast as it moved with Josh.”

St. Louis’ Brendan Donovan, a player the Mariners inquired about last offseason, could be a trade target again. Donovan, 28, is a left-handed hitter with experience at second base, third base and left field, and he was two years of club control remaining before he reaches free agency going into 2028.

The Mariners haven’t ruled out another reunion with veteran third baseman Eugenio Suárez, now a free agent. As things stand, though, Ben Williamson would be the opening day third baseman, and 20-year-old top prospect Colt Emerson will get every chance to make the opening day roster, with the bulk of his spring-training reps coming at third base, at least initially.

Cole Young, the 22-year-old second baseman, also figures prominently in the Mariners’ 2026 roster plans, and the starting rotation is expected to return intact.

“This is as good as it's ever been for us in the time that I've been here,” Dipoto said. “We have a ton of talent. We have the right group of people. They believe in what we're doing organizationally. They connect with our fans. It's a really good group, and something that we're proud of.”

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