Mariners’ biggest offseason priority could ruin the Reds’ free agent plans

Adding some offensive firepower is at the top of the Cincinnati Reds' offseason to-do list, and with that, the rumor mill has already begun swirling. From pipedream options to blockbuster trades, the expectation is that Nick Krall will be both aggressive and creative, with an emphasis on the second part given his limited budget.

One player who could be on the Reds' radar is free-agent first baseman Josh Naylor. While the corner infield has a bit of a logjam currently, with Ke'Bryan Hayes, Spencer Steer, and Sal Stewart already vying for two spots, that doesn't necessarily preclude Cincinnati from making a splash if the player in question were an upgrade. Naylor would be that, but the path to swiping him may have gotten a whole lot harder.

Josh Naylor could be a prime Reds' free-agent target, but the Mariners could foil Nick Krall's plan

A potent bat from the left side is exactly what the doctor ordered for Cincinnati. The club got just a .384 slugging percentage from their left-handed hitters in 2025, and while Naylor isn't purely a power hitter, he does have a 31-homer season on his resume, and his balanced approach would do wonders for the Reds.

He would be an upgrade over Spencer Steer at first, and the Reds could get creative rotating Naylor, Steer, and promising young slugger Sal Stewart through the DH spot to ensure everyone gets their fill. Nick Krall made a play for Naylor at the deadline this past July, so he surely has a plan on how to keep everyone fed.

However, the Mariners are making Naylor their top priority, and that could be bad news for Cincinnati. While Seattle isn't the Los Angeles Dodgers or the New York Mets, it had the 15th-highest payroll in baseball in 2025, coming in at $164.3 million. The Reds, on the other hand, were all the way down at 23rd at a shade over $119 million.

That discrepancy in spending power is huge, and Seattle has a lot of money coming off their books. Sure, they'll also need to make decisions on former Eugenio Suarez and Jorge Polanco, but they'll also be shedding deadweight like the $12 million they paid Mitch Garver in 2025 for exactly replacement-level player performance.

Therefore, Naylor easily fits into their budget while also retaining other key pieces and making upgrades elsewhere.

Cincinnati is facing a harsh reality. The club has desires to ascend from fringe playoff team to be a legitimate contender in a crowded National League field. Doing so, however, will be nearly impossible without significantly raising payroll.

Therefore, it's put up or shut up time, and if the Reds don't drastically raise their budget, we'll be hearing a lot this offseason about their interest but not their actions. A mega deal for a free agent like Kyle Schwarber is never going to be in the cards, but the Reds can play in the Naylor tier if, and only if, they can find the motivation to pry open their wallet.