"While Naylor has been emphasized as the club's priority, Divish suggests that it's possible Polanco actually winds up being the one most likely to sign. That's in part due to Naylor's age, with Divish noting that he's likely to seek a deal longer than three years in free agency. That's the sort of contract that has typically fallen outside of Seattle's comfort zone under Dipoto in free agency, although it's not hard to imagine that the Mariners might view Naylor as an exception to that."
"Even so, it's undeniable that Polanco's contract is far more likely to fall into the Mariners' typical comfort zone when it comes to free agents. Divish writes that Polanco is likely to command a contract "similar" to the aforementioned Garver deal and that he's unlikely to receive a third guaranteed year on his next contract. There's some logic to that assumption given the tough market Polanco found in fr"
The Mariners prioritize re-signing first baseman Josh Naylor but face budget constraints that could limit other infield reunions. Naylor is likely to seek a deal longer than three years, a contract type that has typically fallen outside Seattle general manager Jerry Dipoto's comfort zone in free agency. The club has previously committed to longer extensions for internal players, such as a five-year deal for Luis Castillo and a six-year deal for Cal Raleigh, while Mitch Garver's two years and $24MM remains a notable free-agent benchmark. Jorge Polanco appears more likely to fit a Garver-like short-term, two-year contract without a third guaranteed season, making him a more budget-friendly re-signing candidate than a multi-year Josh Naylor deal.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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