3 Mariners players who might be roster sacrifices to prepare for Josh Naylor extension

As the saying goes, "all good things must come to an end." To many Mariners fans, this applies to the emotional conclusion of the team's playoff run. But technically, it also applies to Josh Naylor's time under team control with the Mariners. He had an incredible second-half run with the team that saw him post a 138 OPS+ in the final months of the regular season and a .967 OPS in the postseason, but he is now a free agent.

Because of his integral role, bringing him back looks to be a major part of the Mariners' offseason plans and with a price tag that could exceed $100 million, Seattle may have to make some financial cuts to fit him into their meager budget. Here are some contracts the team may have to offload to come up with the cash.

3 players who could be roster sacrifices to allow the Mariners to keep Josh Naylor

Luis Castillo

The five-year, $108 million contract extension that Castillo signed in 2022 is slowly but surely becoming a sandbag on Seattle's books. Not only was he the highest-paid player on the roster this year, he's still owed $48 million over the next two years along with a $25 million vesting option in 2028 (dependent on time injured from 2025-2027 and innings pitched in 2027). Statistically, he has been solid but has already shown signs of regression, particularly when it comes to the velocity and effectiveness of his fastball.

Given Seattle's wealth of arm talent, Castillo could be shipped off to a franchise in more desperate need of a reliable starter. Next season may call for a one-year rental to take his spot, but with top pitching prospects like Kade Anderson, Jurrangelo Cijntje, and Ryan Sloan waiting in the wings, it may be just a few years before the Mariners have a cheaper and more effective arm in their rotation.

Shedding the $73 million that could be owed to Castillo over the next three years could pay for Josh Naylor by itself, but it could be tricky to find a suitor willing to do a deal for a declining player who comes with a hefty monetary liability.

Randy Arozarena

Overall, Arozarena had a good year with the Mariners, posting a 119 OPS+ with 27 home runs and 31 stolen bases. However, the wheels came off towards the end of the season and he never got back on track. He followed a .596 OPS in the final month of the regular season with a .571 OPS in the postseason, failing to recapture the playoff success he had over 123 plate appearances with the Rays (1.138 OPS).

Still, because of his overall talent package and the fact that he's set to hit free agency after 2026, MLB Trade Rumors is projecting that he'll make $18.2 million in arbitration, a price that the Mariners may not feel is justified. With Lazaro Montes knocking on the door of the big leagues, trading away Arozarena could be another option for Seattle to save money in the immediate. This could provide a temporary financial bridge for the front office until 2027 rolls around, by which time other pricey contracts like those for J.P. Crawford and Victor Robles could also be rolling off the books.

Logan Gilbert

It could be argued that if the Mariners were intent on keeping Logan Gilbert around for the long haul, an extension would have been finalized at the beginning of the year, around the same time that Cal Raleigh signed his own six-year, $105 million deal. However, because nothing ultimately came to fruition, there's a chance he could be on the trade block this winter. He's set to make $10 million in arbitration next year and will likely make more in 2027 before hitting free agency in 2028.

Gilbert had some rough patches after returning from the IL but overall, he pitched well, finishing the year with a 3.44 ERA over 25 starts. He also played a key role in this year's ALDS, giving up just one run across eight innings of work. Trading him away would be an unpopular decision and is probably not Plan A for Seattle. But given how much trade interest he garnered last year, there's a possibility that the Mariners receive an offer for him that's simply too good to refuse.