REPORT: Mariners to meet face-to-face with perfect trade target

Fresh off a frustrating but ultimately victorious series against the Minnesota Twins, the Seattle Mariners will wrap up a nine-game homestand with a three-game set against the Baltimore Orioles. For Seattle, this series also serves as an opportunity to get a closer look at Ryan O’Hearn.

As discussed recently, the Mariners are expected to be aggressive buyers at the upcoming trade deadline, with first base and right field standing out as major areas of need—both positions have yielded negative WAR. Compounding the issue, Victor Robles is not expected to return to right field anytime soon.

 

 

Designated hitter has also emerged as a growing concern. Jorge Polanco got off to a red-hot start in April in that role, but he’s since hit a rough patch, prompting speculation that the Mariners may need to seek reinforcements at DH as well.

Ryan O’Hearn visits Seattle as arguably the Mariners’ No. 1 trade target

That’s what makes O’Hearn so appealing. On Tuesday, ESPN’s Jeff Passan named him the Mariners’ “best fit” on the trade market this summer. He’s primarily a designated hitter but can also play first base and right field, and his bat has become a real weapon.

Now 31, O’Hearn arrived in Baltimore after being let go by the Kansas City Royals — not surprising given his -2.6 rWAR over five seasons. But he’s found new life with the Orioles, posting an OPS+ around 120 in 2023 and 2024, and truly breaking out in 2025.

 

 

Through 49 games this season, he’s hitting .329/.416/.535 with nine home runs. His 175 OPS+ ranks third in the American League, trailing only Aaron Judge (248) and the Mariners’ own Cal Raleigh (194).

O’Hearn is most effective as a left-handed bat in a platoon against right-handers, but his advanced metrics are just as impressive — his Baseball Savant profile is filled with red, including a 100th-percentile expected batting average.

Meanwhile, the Mariners are getting just a .608 OPS from first base and .595 from right field. So a player like O’Hearn, who could upgrade both positions, should be very tempting for GM Jerry Dipoto.

There’s no reason to think the Mariners and Orioles can’t work out a deal. The Orioles are already out of the playoff picture at 22-36, and O’Hearn is in the final year of his contract. A trade could bring Baltimore some much-needed pitching depth.

[Producer cue]… Oh, right — these two teams will be facing off over the next three days.

As with the Nationals, the Mariners shouldn’t underestimate their latest East Coast visitors. The Orioles may be struggling, but their lineup remains dangerous. O’Hearn is only part of the threat — Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Holliday are having strong seasons, and Adley Rutschman is still a force behind the plate.

The Mariners lead the AL West at 32-26 but are just 12-14 since May 4, mostly due to an inconsistent offense. Raleigh, Julio Rodríguez, and Randy Arozarena are doing their part, but the rest of the lineup has been underwhelming.

 

 

Seattle’s pitching is where they have a clear edge. Their team ERA is about 1.5 runs better than Baltimore’s, and they’ll have top starter Bryan Woo and the in-form Emerson Hancock taking the mound this series.

However, much will ride on George Kirby and the bullpen. Kirby has struggled since returning from shoulder inflammation, allowing 11 earned runs in 8.2 innings over two starts. And the bullpen just collapsed against Minnesota — even usually-reliable closer Andrés Muñoz suffered through three straight blown saves.

In short, this series has all the makings of a trap. But when your team is barely staying afloat like the Mariners are, they all start to feel that way.