Satisfying option #2: Josh Naylor
Josh Naylor is a first baseman for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He is presently in his last season of arbitration eligibility, making him a free agent in 2026. He had spent most of his career with Cleveland before being traded to Arizona this year. His position is first base, with the occasional start as a designated hitter. While he might considered as only an average fielder, he’s the type of player who gets paid for his bat, not for his glove.
Josh Naylor made his first All-Star game appearance in 2024, going hitless in his only at bat. His statistics for that season included 31 home runs with 108 RBIs. Over his past three seasons, Naylor has a combined total of 68 home runs and 284 Runs Batted in. Naylor possesses only average speed but he has stolen as many as ten bases in a season, so he could still be considered to be a good fit for being used in a hit and run play or even as the back end of a double steal.
Naylor has shown improvement every season and most scouts who have followed his career consider him to be a budding superstar. No one can ever be sure just how potential will develop into production, but as Josh Naylor enters into free agency in 2026, his ceiling is unlimited. And at a mere 29 years of age, he can go as far as his talent will take him. Could it be for the NY Mets? We'll have to wait and see.
