Mariners Lineup Fix Could Come From an Unlikely Source

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt Graves | Last updated Jul 10, 2025 4:01 PM ET

The Seattle Mariners have quietly positioned themselves for a postseason push. Seattle is sitting at 48-44, second in the American League West and tied for the final Wild Card spot.

Their pitching staff has been one of the most reliable in the AL, but if the Mariners want to make noise down the stretch, it'll need to address a glaring weakness: corner infield production.

In his midseason breakdown for ESPN, Jeff Passan identified Josh Naylor of the Arizona Diamondbacks as a top trade match for the Mainrers.

While the Mariners have patched things together at first base with Donovan Solano and Luke Raley, the numbers expose the gap. Seattle’s first basemen have combined to hit just .237/.292/.418 with a 93 OPS+, 15 home runs and 44 RBIs, along with an 84:19 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 316 at-bats.

Naylor, by contrast, is in the midst of another strong season. The left-handed slugger is batting .296/.367/.465 with a 127 OPS+, 11 home runs, 58 RBIs and an impressively balanced 44:40 K:BB ratio across 314 at-bats.

"Naylor is a high-average, low-strikeout slugger whose quality at-bats would help transform a solid Seattle lineup into something more," Passan wrote.

Whether batting behind J.P. Crawford to bost Cal Raleigh's RBI chance, or slotted between Raleigh and Randy Arozarena to drive in runs himself, Naylor would bring a different dimension to offense, consistent contact and power from the left side.

With plenty of prospect capital and a real chance for the postseason, the Mariners have both the tools and incentive to strike big.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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