Josh Naylor signs five-year extension

The Mariners made a important determination successful escaped agency, extending Josh Naylor's declaration to 5 years. The $92.5 cardinal woody represents the club's largest concern successful a escaped cause hitter during the decennary that Jerry Dipoto has tally shot operations. Seattle's extremity to support arsenic galore players arsenic imaginable from the 2025 roster is inactive current; At the property conference, erstwhile Naylor's declaration was announced, Dipoto said that the squad inactive plans to widen practice with Jorge Polanco.

"Polo is simply a large feline and we've been successful interaction with him and his agency," Dipoto said (link via Adam Jude of The Seattle Times). "I don't expect this to hap arsenic rapidly arsenic it did with Josh." 

Also, Seattle inactive hasn't closed the doorway connected bringing successful Eugenio Suárez, but Polanco remains the team's superior focus, writes Jude.

Last winter, the Mariners brought backmost Polanco, a subordinate who tin play some sides, connected a $6 cardinal contract. The nine was rewarded for its spot due to the fact that its weaker show successful 2024 was the effect of playing with a meniscus wounded successful the near knee. Polanco deed 26 location runs with a .265/.326/.495 batting mean implicit 524 sheet appearances. He spent astir of the clip arsenic a designated hitter successful bid to sphere his health, but successful September and during the playoffs helium played much often astatine 2nd base.

New contract

This clip Polanco volition inquire for a overmuch stronger contract. A declaration of astatine slightest 2 years is astir certain. MLBTR projects a three-year, $42 cardinal contract, covering his property 32-34 seasons. That fig would beryllium the largest declaration for a escaped cause nether Dipot since Naylor. There inactive appears to beryllium country successful the fund for a mid-range declaration adjacent with Naylor making $16.5 cardinal adjacent play ($10 cardinal wage positive a $6.5 cardinal signing bonus).

Ryan Bliss, Cole Young and Leo Rivas are presently options astatine 2nd base. Top imaginable Colt Emerson, 19, is showing committedness with a .285/.383/.458 mean done 3 levels of the insignificant leagues. Emerson appears apt to marque his debut astatine 3rd base, portion Ben Williamson, a weak-side hitter, is slated to beryllium the starter. If the Mariners neglect to widen Polanco's contract, the absorption whitethorn displacement to Suárez.