For four games at the start of the 2026 season, the Cleveland Guardians got a first-hand look at their old friend Josh Naylor.
While it wasn’t the first time the Guardians had seen Naylor since he was traded away two winters ago, it was the first time they’d seen him since Seattle became his long-term home thanks to the five-year, $92.5 million contract he signed with the M’s in the offseason.
And Naylor’s performance in that series left a lot of be desired for Mariners fans.
After finishing last season on a tear for the Mariners, Naylor started the season by going 0-for-15 against the Guardians with three walks. He entered play on Friday just 1-for-27 with five strikeouts after laying another egg in Seattle’s ensuing series against the Yankees.
Sure, it’s only a six-game stretch in an 162-game season, but Naylor’s season-opening slump is causing a fair bit of anxiety across the Pacific Northwest.
Those struggles should be a bit bittersweet for Guardians fans. On one hand, Naylor’s struggles have clearly limited the Mariners and played a large part in Cleveland splitting their season-opening series at T-Mobile Park.
But, on the other hand, Naylor’s struggles can be a bit tough to watch for a good portion of the Guardians’ fan base given how much of a fan favorite he still is.
The Guardians have benefited from Josh Naylor’s early season struggles
Last year was Naylor at the height of his powers, as he finished the year with a .295 average with 20 home runs, 95 RBI and 30 steals across 147 games with the D-backs and Mariners.
Even if his underlying metrics left a bit to be desired, he got the job done in the regular season before reaching another level in the postseason (.340 batting average, three home runs).
He was able to parlay that into the aforementioned contract that confirmed he was a part of Seattle’s long-term future.
When he made his return to Progressive Field last year, Naylor said that he just wanted to go somewhere where he was appreciated. That place ended up being Seattle.
But all the positive momentum he gained last season seems to have gone by the wayside thanks to his rough start to the season. While he’s only struck out six times and has still generated four walks, he isn’t hitting the ball with much authority.
Only six of the 22 balls that he’s put in play have left the infield, one of which was his lone hit, which came against Yankees starter Max Fried.
Naylor’s struggles have come at a time when the rest of the Mariners’ lineup is also scuffling, as Naylor, Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez, have combined to go 7-for-78 (.089) this season with zero home runs.
At some point all three of them will wake up from their collective slumps. They’re too good not to. But these struggles have set the tone for a season that’s essentially championship or bust for the only active MLB team that hasn’t made the World Series.
And while the Mariners aren’t in the same division as the Guardians, Cleveland could still end up jockeying with them for a Wild Card spot and/or postseason seeding.
Again, the Mariners will wake up at some point. But the Guardians did a good job getting an early leg up on Seattle, and they have Naylor to thank for it.
