Josh Naylor News Emerges After Removal From Mariners Lineup

The Seattle Mariners have not lived up to expectations thus far during the 2026 MLB season, and part of the reason why is their inconsistent offense. That includes first baseman Josh Naylor, who was re-signed this past offseason on a five-year, $92.5 million contract to remain at the position long-term.

Naylor earned the deal after arriving in Seattle at last year's trade deadline in a move with the Arizona Diamondbacks, immediately fitting in and helping the club make a deep run in October.

The Mariners came just one win short of reaching the franchise's first-ever World Series. However, Naylor has not carried that production into 2026. The 28-year-old left-handed slugger has posted a .208 batting average, .283 on-base percentage, .600 OPS, three home runs and 11 RBIs across 26 games.

There is still plenty of time for Naylor to turn it around, but his disappointing season hit another setback. Ahead of Sunday's series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals, the Mariners announced their lineup, and Naylor was not included.

Instead, Connor Joe drew the start at first base, hitting seventh. While it initially appeared to be a routine day off, his absence was injury-related. "Josh Naylor (quad tightness) is out of the M's lineup today," reported Adam Jude of The Seattle Times.

It is unclear when Naylor first felt the issue, though it likely surfaced during pregame warmups. The hope is that his quad tightness remains a day-to-day situation and does not require a stint on the injured list.

Josh Naylor (quad tightness) is out of the M's lineup today.

— Adam Jude (@A_Jude) April 26, 2026

Naylor remains one of the most important players on the roster despite the slow start. He has a long track record across eight seasons of being one of the most consistent hitters in MLB and is also a former All-Star. If the Mariners want to climb the AL West standings, they need Naylor in their lineup every day.

With Seattle already searching for answers offensively, losing Naylor for an extended stretch would only make their uphill climb even steeper.

Related: Mariners' Cal Raleigh Makes Off-Field Announcement Amid MLB Season

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This story was originally published April 26, 2026 at 1:06 PM.