“Mariners W”; “Holy overpay” - Fans split as Josh Naylor’s 5-year deal locks him in alongside Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez long-term

Josh Naylor will reportedly return to the Seattle Mariners on a five-year deal. The first baseman, who was traded here at the deadline, had an exceptional year at the plate, helping the Mariners make a deep run in the postseason.

ESPN's Jeff Passan shared the development on X on Nov. 17, calling him a beloved figure in Seattle.

Jeff Passan

@JeffPassan

BREAKING: First baseman Josh Naylor and the Seattle Mariners are finalizing a five-year contract, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN. The first major free agent to sign this winter goes back to Seattle, where he was beloved after joining the Mariners in a deadline trade.

Fans shared their reactions upon hearing the news.

"Mariners W," one fan wrote.

Meanwhile, one fan suggested that the five-year deal was too much:

"Holy overpay."

"Good move for the Mariners," one fan commented.

"Wow, 1B market getting slimmer already. Still got Pete Alonso going to the Yankees," one fan wrote.

"Worth noting this deal is in $CAD. What a great move by the Mariners," one fan said.

"Seattle locking up Naylor for 5 years? Guess they really liked him more than we liked our free agency decisions," one fan added.

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Mariners locked in Josh Naylor, Cal Raleigh, and Julio Rodriguez to long-term deals

In a separate tweet, Jeff Passan shared that re-signing Josh Naylor was a top priority for the Mariners, entering this offseason. He said:

"His excellence down the stretch got him a long-term deal to join Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodríguez and the Mariners’ rotation as a foundational piece. His energy was infectious. Seattle didn't want to lose it."

The Mariners have already signed Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez to long-term deals. The Mariners catcher signed a six-year, $105 million contract extension in March, as per MLB. His contract includes a $10 million signing bonus, and it runs through the 2030 season.

Meanwhile, J-Rod is signed to a 12-year, potentially $469.6 million contract, which includes a guaranteed $209.3 million. The contract has a $15 million signing bonus and guarantees the star at least $209.3 million over 12 years. The contract has incentives tied to his performance, which makes it a 12-year, $469.6 million deal if J-Rod wins two MVPs by 2028.

All three stars are the core of the Mariners' lineup. Raleigh just had a great season at the plate, finishing second behind Aaron Judge in the AL MVP voting. Julio Rodriguez is young and is only going to improve. Meanwhile, Naylor is coming off a great postseason and should be a great asset in the lineup.