Pittsburgh Pirates Never Offered Deal to Mariners’ Josh Naylor

The Pittsburgh Pirates have been hunting for offensive help ahead of the 2026 MLB season. There’s been a ton of chatter, but one rumored move just never happened.

Despite earlier buzz, the Pirates didn’t throw a blockbuster free-agent offer at first baseman Josh Naylor. Naylor ended up signing a five-year deal with the Seattle Mariners, so Pittsburgh’s still out there, searching for ways to fix one of baseball’s weakest offenses from 2025.

Pirates Rumored Offer to Naylor Was Misreported

Some folks speculated the Pirates doubled their biggest previous free-agent commitment to chase Naylor. ESPN’s Jeff Passan even said they offered more than $78 million, which would have dwarfed the three-year, $39 million deal Francisco Liriano got in 2014.

But Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich of The Athletic cleared things up—no such offer ever happened.

Naylor’s Mariners Deal Was Finalized Quickly

Naylor’s free agency wrapped up fast after the World Series. The Mariners jumped in with a five-year, $92 million contract, averaging $18.5 million a year.

That quick move left the Pirates without much of a shot, even if they’d wanted to get in the mix.

Pittsburgh’s Offensive Struggles in 2025

Pittsburgh’s urgency comes from just how rough their offense looked last season. Their numbers were ugly across the board:

• Slugging Percentage: .350 (last in MLB)
• OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging): .655 (last in MLB)
• RBIs: 561 (last in MLB)
• Home Runs: 117 (last in MLB)

Why Naylor Was an Appealing Target

Naylor turned in a career year in 2025, showing off at the plate and on the bases. He hit .295 with 20 homers, 92 RBIs, and swiped 30 bags while splitting time between the Diamondbacks and Mariners.

He kept producing in the postseason for Seattle, posting a .966 OPS over 12 games. Pittsburgh could really use that kind of spark.

Pirates’ Historical Spending Habits

No surprise, there was skepticism about the Naylor rumor because of the Pirates’ free agency history. This franchise just doesn’t spend big on position players.

Pittsburgh hasn’t signed a free-agent position player to a multi-year deal since 2015. Most of their bigger contracts have gone to pitchers, with Liriano’s 2014 deal still the high-water mark.

Other Targets in This Offseason Market

Even though they missed out on Naylor, the Pirates are still poking around for hitters. Some names floating around include:

• Ryan O’Hearn – Versatile first baseman/outfielder with power upside
• Jorge Polanco – Switch-hitting veteran infielder
• Kuzamo Okamoto – Japanese slugger with significant international pedigree
• Kyle Schwarber – Proven power bat and postseason performer

The Road Ahead

Pittsburgh fans know the drill. The club gets its offensive struggles, but adding top-tier talent isn’t easy here.

They might chase mid-tier free agents. Maybe they’ll risk a trade for a real bat.

One thing’s for sure: the Pirates can’t show up to spring training with the same lineup holes that haunted them in 2025.

Bottom line: The Josh Naylor situation highlights both the hope and the headache of free agency in Pittsburgh. If you look at the past, the Pirates need more than just smart deals—they’ve got to push past their usual cautious spending.

The names might change, but the mission’s old news. This team has to wake up its offense if it wants any shot in the National League.

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Here is the source article for this story: Pirates Never Made Offer to Mariners’ Josh Naylor