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Josh Naylor’s Postseason Surge Puts Mariners’ October and His Seattle Future in Focus

A technique-driven baserunning shift has produced a flawless steal record since the trade despite bottom-tier sprint speed.

Overview

  • Acquired at the trade deadline on an expiring deal, Naylor has since said he loves playing in Seattle and wants to stay.
  • He homered in ALCS Game 2, becoming the first Canadian to go deep as a visiting player in Canada during the MLB postseason, and he also stole a base in that game.
  • Naylor has 19 steals in 54 games with the Mariners and 30 in 2025 overall, and he has not been caught stealing since the trade, including in the postseason.
  • Baseball Savant lists his 2025 sprint speed at 24.4 mph, ranking 388th out of 395 qualified players, underscoring the contrast between speed and results.
  • Reporting attributes his surge to bigger leads and a risk-embracing mindset, and it notes Seattle would likely need to pay up to retain him beyond this season.