While Seattle Mariners fans were still talking about the men of a memorable season, this morning, the social revolution suddenly took off. Josh Naylor – the star who became the heart of the team after the trade deadline – left a short but photo-filled comment on teammate Cal Raleigh’s Instagram:
“See you my friend ❤️ Always rooting for you. God.”
Just the first six words were enough to make the whole city go on. “See you my friend” – sounded like both a goodbye and a wish for good luck on the new journey. For a player who fought to the end for the Mariners, it was a sentence that made the entire fan community celebrate again.
Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh posted a photo thanking fans after an emotional 2025 season. But it was Naylor’s response that had fans everywhere starting to worry. Within minutes, hundreds of comments appeared:
“Don’t tell me you’re leaving, Josh…”
“Can’t imagine Seattle without Naylor.”
Sports Illustrated was quick to take credit for the incident, calling it a “social commentary explosion.” Analyst Jeff Passan was more mellow: “It may have been a greeting between friends, but if you’re a Seattle fan, you have reason to worry.”
Since being traded from the Arizona Diamondbacks to Seattle in the middle of the 2025 season, Josh Naylor has quickly become the new soul of the Mariners. He batted .299, had nine home runs, 33 RBIs, and 19 stolen bases in just 54 games—not impressive numbers, but coming when the team needed him most.
But what fans love about Naylor isn’t just his power shots or his sprints, it’s his spirit. He’s the one who screams after every win, hugs his teammates after every loss, and is the player who often stays at the last practice field in the Seattle sunset.
For the Mariners, Naylor is more than just a player—he’s the energy, the heartbeat of the locker room. And that’s why some of the words on social media carry so much weight.
According to sources at SI and Sportskeeda, there’s no confirmation that Naylor has decided to leave Seattle. Some reporters believe it’s just a personal goodbye between close friends after a long season. But the worry is this: Naylor is about to become a free agent, and there’s no guarantee the Mariners will keep him with a host of other teams interested.
An inside source said the Mariners are considering a four-year deal worth between $72 million and $80 million. But with the market heating up and Naylor’s form on the rise, it’s not out of the question that the Reds, Giants, or Blue Jays could be in the running.
The comment may have been a friendly between the two. But for Mariners fans, it’s a warning of something they don’t want to face: a season without Josh Naylor in navy.
Beneath the post, a fan wrote:
“Josh, if you do leave, know that Seattle will be rooting for you—like you did for Cal.”
A simple sentence, but containing the whole sentiment of this city – where Naylor has seen high-fives with children along the fence, smiles after every victory, and fights tirelessly for the team.
If this is really a farewell, there is no noise. Just a small message between friends – But enough to make Seattle whole again.
Because sometimes, what makes us most afraid is not the sound of leaving, but the moment we realize – that person may have said goodbye without us even understanding.
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