One of the more appealing Plan Bs if the Mets were not to re-sign Pete Alonso is off the market already.
First baseman Josh Naylor agreed to a five-year contract to return to the Mariners, The Post’s Jon Heyman confirmed Sunday night, in the first major signing of the MLB offseason. The financial terms were not yet disclosed.
Naylor, 28, was acquired by Seattle from the Diamondbacks at the trade deadline and boasted an .831 OPS with nine homers and 19 steals in 54 games while batting .299.
It was part of a superb all-around year that included 20 homers and 92 RBIs
Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor (12) reacts after hitting a home run in the sixth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays during Game 6 of the ALCS. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectNaylor helped the Mariners win the AL West and make a run to Game 7 of the ALCS before falling to the Blue Jays. He went 10-for-24 in the series and slashed .340/392/.574 in the playoffs with three home runs and five RBIs.
Naylor gives the Mariners that second big bat around slugging catcher Cal Raleigh, as they look to build off their success. Naylor has also played for the Guardians and Padres.
The former All-Star was thought to be a strong fallback option for the Mets should they not be able to bring back Alonso in free agency.
The Mets’ all-time home run leader, who will no longer have the qualifying offer attached to him, had a strong 2025, even as the team collapsed and failed to make the postseason.
Mets first baseman Pete Alonso. Jim Rassol-Imagn ImagesAlonso won his first Silver Slugger while hitting .272/.347/.524 with 38 homers, 41 doubles and 126 RBIs.
Heyman predicted that five years, for $164 million, would make sense for Alonso.
If the Mets aren’t able to get that done, Cody Bellinger remains a possible option if he does not go back to the Yankees, as well as Japanese infielder Munetaka Murakami.
