How Josh Naylor Improves Mariners Lineup

With less than a week until the trade deadline, things have been pretty quiet. The Mariners broke the seal by getting one of the impact bats they needed in Josh Naylor. Should the Mariners stop here? Absolutely not. Just about every Mariners beat writer has reported the team is interested in continuing. Reports are that the Mariners are still interested in Eugenio Suarez.

How Josh Naylor Improves Mariners’ Lineup

Regardless of whether they continue to add, the Mariners improved today. With the Houston Astros losing, the Mariners had themselves a good Thursday.

Basics of the deal

Well, let’s get the basics out of the way. The Mariners sent Brandyn Garcia (#13) and Ashton Izzi (#16) to Arizona. All things considered, a pretty good deal for both sides. Arizona gets some much-needed pitching help in two great prospects, Garcia of whom is at the cusp of being league-ready, making his MLB debut on Monday. Izzi was struggling in High-A Everett, but that’s only 12 starts. The value is still there.

Seattle, on the other hand, finally indulges in a true rental. Yes, they’ve acquired rentals before- every team does. But this is the first high-profile rental the Mariners have acquired in a long time. Justin Turner is a great bat, but he wasn’t your major addition; that was Randy Arozarena. Naylor is a player who will be coming to play in almost every game over the next two months.

Naylor is in his age-28 season and adds roughly $3 million to their payroll. That still gives them a little flexibility to make other moves.

What is Naylor’s impact in the lineup?

Naylor is a person with two sides. On one side, he’s a high-average, 20-home-run player. On the other hand, he sells out for power a little more and hits around .250, but possesses 30 home run power. This season, he’s leaning towards the high average, 20 home run power, which is exactly what the Mariners need at the top of the lineup.

So far this year, Naylor’s slashing .292/.360/.447, with an OPS of .807, which is the fourth highest on the Mariners. His 59 RBIs are second behind Cal Raleigh, and his 11 home runs are fifth behind Julio Rodriguez.

Typically, the Mariners will leadoff with J.P. Crawford, followed by Rodriguez, and some variation of Raleigh, Arozarena, and Jorge Polanco. Now that you have Naylor, you can bump up your high average guy to slot behind Crawford in the leadoff spot, and follow him with your best hitter, Raleigh, or Arozarena, and have Raleigh hit cleanup. It should be noted that Arozarena is quietly having a career year and is one of the three Mariners with a higher OPS than Naylor.

Roster conundrum

Adding Naylor to the lineup does bring up a slight problem. You currently have two other players in the first base/outfield/DH category- Luke Raley and Dominic Canzone. Raley has provided great power and the ever-crucial ability to hit at T-Mobile Park, while Canzone is having a career year after spending the majority of his time in Triple-A Tacoma.

Both Raley and Canzone are club control guys, with Canzone being Arb-eligible in 2027 and Raley being signed through 2029. Canzone has a minor league option, Raley does not.

Canzone: 0.8 WAR | .300/.330/.527 | .858 OPS 6 home runs

Raley: 0.3 WAR | .220/.343/.348 | .691 OPS 4 home runs

One of those players isn’t the only solution, though. Dylan Moore, while starting the year hot, has been horrendous since returning from injury, but he offers great defensive versatility. Miles Mastrobuoni has been a solid bench option, but he has an option left. Or does this mean the end for underwhelming veteran addition Donovan Solano?