Before the MLB season began, there was uncertainty about which team would emerge as the best in the AL West. The Houston Astros were dealing with the losses of Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman, while the Texas Rangers were welcoming back a healthy Jacob deGrom and adding Joc Pederson to their offense. Questions lingered about how the Athletics would perform in their debut season at a new ballpark and whether the Angels could take a step forward in Ron Washington’s second year as manager.
Meanwhile, the Seattle Mariners were the one team that remained relatively quiet during the offseason, making minimal changes and avoiding major uncertainties. Ironically, that stability might be what’s propelled them to the top of the AL West standings. Still, despite their current lead, the Mariners have room to improve if they want to solidify their spot as the division’s top contender. Here are three players Seattle should pursue before the trade deadline:
Pablo López, SP, Minnesota Twins
López might be less likely to be traded after the Twins’ recent eight-game winning streak, which included a sweep of the Giants and upcoming games against the Orioles—a team they just swept earlier. But if Minnesota stumbles again, López would be an ideal upgrade for a Mariners rotation that ranks sixth-worst in Wins Above Average at -0.6. His 2.77 ERA would be second-best in Seattle’s rotation behind Logan Gilbert (2.37 ERA), and his 43 strikeouts are just one shy of team leaders Gilbert and Bryan Woo, who each have 44. If López or another top-tier starter becomes available, the Mariners should act quickly.
Ryan O’Hearn, 1B/OF, Baltimore Orioles
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O’Hearn has been a rare bright spot for a struggling Orioles team, which owns the second-worst record in the American League and fifth-worst overall. Seattle’s current first baseman, Rowdy Tellez, is hitting just .200 with six home runs. In contrast, O’Hearn is batting .303 with seven home runs and a .950 OPS in 99 at-bats. He’d not only provide a significant offensive boost but also offer more reliable defense at first base. The Mariners rank 22nd in Wins Above Average at the position (-0.8), and O’Hearn could help correct that.
Robert Suarez, RP, San Diego Padres
This trade might be a long shot, given San Diego’s strong start. Still, Padres GM AJ Preller is known for making bold moves when the offer is right. If Seattle could land Suarez to pair with closer Andrés Muñoz (18 games, 0.00 ERA), they’d have a nearly unbeatable late-inning combo. Suarez and Muñoz could dominate from the eighth inning on, forming one of the most formidable bullpen duos in the league.
