With Josh Naylor signed to a five year, $92.5-million contract, the Mariners have filled their first base hole for the foreseeable future and brought back one of their three major hitters entering free agency this offseason. His return provides much more clarity on what remains to be done and how much money the team has left to do it. Jerry Dipoto indicated in a postseason interview that the amount they finished with in 2025 (roughly $165 million) would serve as the baseline for their 2026 payroll. Most estimates prior to the Naylor signing projected the Mariners at about $132 million committed for 2026 after arbitration. That leaves around $15 million available if ownership does not increase the payroll beyond last year’s finishing point.
There is heavy speculation that second base or relief pitching is next on the Mariners’ list of needs, and that conclusion is understandable. But to really answer the question, we must first look at third base.
The Eugenio Suarez Question
You love Geno, I love Geno, everyone loves Geno. He is one of the most likable players in baseball, a beloved teammate, and a genuinely positive clubhouse presence. His on-field production has also been strong for most of his career. He has averaged 32 home runs per season, played reliable defense, and shown remarkable durability. Since 2016, excluding the shortened 2020 season, he has never started fewer than 143 games. He seemed to find his offensive rhythm again this past year, tying his career high in home runs (49) for the first time since his age-27 season in 2019. Now 33 years old and coming off an excellent offensive season, Suarez would be a great one-year addition to help push Seattle over the top.
However, several factors make a reunion unlikely. His defense took a step back, and although his arm remains elite, his range and first-step quickness have declined. His offensive production was still reliant on his home run total, which meant taking big swings and pulling the ball in the air. This approach produced a 29.8 percent strikeout rate, which was not offset by his relatively low 7 percent walk rate. He benefited from some home run luck and struggled to get the ball over the fence in Seattle, resulting in many warning track outs. He also had a poor second half and went ice cold during most of the playoffs. These signs point toward a player in decline, and one who may no longer have the consistent power to overcome the marine layer at T-Mobile Park.