he Boston Red Sox saw one free-agent option come off the market this week when the Seattle Mariners re-signed first baseman Josh Naylor.
The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reports Naylor received a five-year, $92.5 million contract.
Good news is the Red Sox’s pursuit of New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso shouldn’t be impacted by Naylor’s deal.
Market Impact
“Alonso and (Cody) Bellinger are expected to land bigger deals than Naylor, so aside from taking the Mariners out of the market for a first baseman, Naylor’s signing shouldn’t have a major impact on either of them,” MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reports.
“If anything, Naylor’s deal takes one option off the market for clubs not looking to sign one of those big two, narrowing the field for players like Ryan O’Hearn, Luis Arraez and Rhys Hoskins,” Feinsand adds.
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“I believe the Red Sox are the strongest contender of anyone to take Pete Alonso away from the New York Mets,” MLB.com’s Jon Morosi says.
“I think Alonso to the Red Sox has some real legs if they don’t bring back Alex Bregman,” Morosi adds.
Comparison
Alonso compares favorably to the 28-year-old Naylor, who set career highs with 31 home runs and 108 RBIs with the Cleveland Guardians 2024, earning him his first All-Star nod.
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Naylor split 2025 between the Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks, hitting a combined 20 home runs to go with 92 RBIs and a career-high 30 stolen bases.
The 30-year-old Alonso hit 38 home runs this season, which was eighth-best in the majors, and drove in 126 runs, second only to Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber.
Contract Projections
MLB Trade Rumors projects Alonso will sign a four-year, $110 million contract and lists the Red Sox, Mets and Cincinnati Reds as potential landing spots.
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The Athletic’s Jim Bowden listed the Red Sox, Mets, Phillies, Mariners and Texas Rangers as the prime contenders for Alonso, with an expected price tag of six years and $182 million.
The New York Post’s Jon Heyman predicts Alonso will land a five-year, $165 million contract.
The five-tine All-Star was a free agent last winter and didn’t find a multi-year, nine-figure contract to his liking so he returned to the Mets, who gave him a two-year, $54 million deal with an opt-out clause.
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The two-time Home Run Derby champion said after the regular season ended he would opt out of his contract and return to the open market.
