Ryan O’Hearn Could Be the Key to Unlocking Mariners’ Playoff Push
Right now, the buzz around Major League Baseball is heating up, especially when it comes to trade rumors—and one name that’s quickly starting to catch fire is Ryan O’Hearn of the Baltimore Orioles. ESPN’s Jeff Passan recently called O’Hearn an ideal fit for the Seattle Mariners, and honestly, it makes perfect sense.
Despite a solid showing against the Mariners earlier this week, the Orioles are struggling this season. They’re sitting at 25-36 and trailing by 7.5 games in the Wild Card race. That’s not the kind of record that screams postseason. It’s the kind of situation that typically turns a club from contender to seller as the trade deadline approaches. And in O’Hearn’s case, he’s just too hot a commodity to go unnoticed.
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This guy is having a phenomenal season—hitting .326 with nine home runs, 23 RBIs, and an on-base percentage of .411. That’s elite-level production, especially for a player who isn’t exactly a household name. But numbers don’t lie, and those numbers are what the Mariners desperately need right now. Seattle has been inconsistent at first base, getting minimal output from Rowdy Tellez, Donovan Solano, and Luke Raley. If the Mariners are serious about making a push in a tight AL West race, O’Hearn could be the bat that tips the scales.
Buster Olney echoed that sentiment on the “Refuse to Lose” podcast, saying that while there isn’t a ton of trade talk happening yet, executives believe that once teams like the Orioles officially declare themselves sellers, players like O’Hearn will draw a lot of attention. And not just surface-level interest—real, aggressive pursuit. Because let’s be honest, there’s a shortage of productive hitters available from current selling teams like Miami, Colorado, or the White Sox.
So what’s the holdup? Timing. Right now, the market hasn’t opened up in a big way. There’s speculation. There are talks behind the scenes. But no one’s officially throwing in the towel—yet. Once Baltimore decides to make that call, teams like Seattle need to be ready to pounce.
Bottom line: If the Mariners want to bolster their lineup, protect Julio Rodríguez, and really make a playoff push, Ryan O’Hearn might just be the guy to do it. All eyes are going to be on him in the coming weeks, and Mariners fans should hope GM Justin Hollander is paying close attention. This could be the move that changes everything.
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