The Mariners could use some more offense.
The Seattle Mariners finished the first half of the 2025 season on a high note, having won three consecutive games. They are currently in sole possession of the third American League Wild Card spot.
However, the Tampa Bay Rays aren't far behind, and to secure their place in the postseason for the first time since 2022, Seattle may need to make a move or two to bolster their roster.
One area of need is offense. Despite the constant heroics of catcher Cal Raleigh, it wouldn't hurt to have one more bat in the mix.
Matt Johnson of Sportsnaut recently listed slugger Josh Naylor as a trade candidate, while also predicting that the veteran first baseman will end up being traded to Seattle.
"At the summer break, Mariners first basemen ranked 18th in OPS (.703). Diamondbacks first baseman Josh Naylor is on an expiring contract, reducing the acquisition cost for Seattle," Johnson wrote.
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Naylor would be a solid addition for Seattle as they search for offense. The 28-year-old former All-Star is slashing .294/.361/.456 with 11 home runs, 58 RBI, 11 stolen bases and an .817 OPS.
He is on an expiring contract, and it appears likely that Arizona will be selling at the deadline. They have not officially declared it, but they are falling out of contention, so it would make sense for them to capitalize on Naylor's value.
But Seattle needs help offensively, and Naylor could be just what they need to secure their place in the Wild Card race and potentially close the gap on the Houston Astros in the AL West.
It will certainly be interesting to see what Seattle decides to do and where they land in their search for a bat.
More MLB: It's the year of Cal Raleigh
Category: Baseball
