Breaking down the Mariners' potential $92 million Josh Naylor mistake

The Seattle Mariners knew they had to re-sign Josh Naylor this offseason.

He had been so good after they traded for him from the Arizona Diamondbacks before last season's trade deadline. The only question was how much it would cost.

The answer was $92 million over five years. The deal got done very quickly when the offseason began -- clearly, both sides wanted to stick together.

It just hasn't gone well for Naylor so far.

Through April 10, Naylor is 6-for-52. That's a .115 batting average.

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Even worse, those are all singles. He has yet to have an extra-base hit in 52 at bats.

Naylor has walked five times and struck out 10.

His OPS is .308.

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Is there a problem?

At the moment, this shouldn't yet be viewed as a long-term issue. Naylor has too long a history of solid production to believe this will continue forever.

Players do have stretches like this every season where nothing goes right. It just looms way larger when it begins on Opening Day, because it can't hide within fuller stats. It's all there for everyone to see.

Naylor is whiffing only a tad more than he did last season, and he's squared up the ball less than last year so far. That makes sense. It's why his production isn't working out yet.

But it's too early to think Naylor is broken. It's just really tough for him to look up at his stats on the scoreboard so far, and he'll hope to begin his turnaround soon.

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