The Mariners are reportedly seeking corner infield and bullpen help as the deadline approaches, and MLB.com’s Daniel Kramer reported recently that ownership has signaled it will approve a payroll increase to facilitate such transactions. Adam Jude of the Seattle Times hears similarly, writing that Mariners ownership will authorize increased spending for the front office to add to the roster while ticking through some potential options.
Both Ryan O’Hearn of the Orioles and Josh Naylor of the D-backs are viewed as likely trade candidates over the next month. Both would fit the Mariners nicely at first base, allowing Luke Raley to spend more time in the outfield, where he’s more comfortable than at first base. However, early asking prices from both Baltimore and Arizona are quite high, per Jude.
O’Hearn has repeatedly elevated his game in recent seasons and now stands as one of the most productive hitters in the American League. He’s currently sitting on a .295/.383/.471 batting line with 11 homers, 10 doubles, an 11% walk rate and just a 16.3% strikeout rate through 282 plate appearances. He had a tough month in June, but since being traded from Kansas City to Baltimore in the 2022-23 offseason, O’Hearn has proven himself to be a credible middle-of-the-order bat. He hasn’t quite sustained last year’s enormous gains in contact rate, but he’s chasing off the plate at a career-low rate, walking more and showing a bit more power than he did in 2024.
Naylor offers a similar, albeit not identical skill set. Last year’s career-high 31 homers are far more than O’Hearn has ever produced, though some of that is a simple function of playing time. Naylor logged 633 plate appearances in 2024 (a career-high); O’Hearn has never topped last year’s 494 trips to the plate. Both have above-average power with far better contact skills than the prototypical first baseman/designated hitter. Naylor has fanned only 13% of the time he’s come to the plate in 2025. His 8% walk rate is a bit below average, but his overall .304/.359/.474 slash is terrific.
Looking strictly at 2025, O’Hearn has been a bit more impactful in the batter’s box, but the pair’s last three seasons are virtually identical. Naylor has slashed .279/.340/.472 in 1452 plate appearances, while O’Hearn has turned in a .280/.342/.455 line in 1144 plate appearances. They’ve both walked in 8% of their plate appearances. On a rate basis, Naylor has shown a slight bit more power (.193 ISO to .175), but the difference is minimal. The two are compensated similarly, but Naylor is paid a bit more: $10.9MM to O’Hearn’s $8MM. Both are free agents at season’s end.
In a more interesting but also far less plausible scenario, Jude further reports that the Mariners would have interest if the Red Sox were to make Alex Bregman available. That perhaps speaks to ownership’s willingness to add to the payroll, although presumably, the M’s would be looking for the Sox to at least help with some of Bregman’s heavily deferred $40MM annual salary.
The idea of a Bregman trade is interesting in theory but hard to envision in practice. Players with opt-out clauses and player options are rarely traded, and the massive scale of Bregman’s annual salary only further muddies his candidacy.
In broad terms, it’s difficult for two clubs to line up on prospect compensation for a player with multiple years remaining on his contract but the ability to opt back into free agency at season’s end. The acquiring team generally views that player as a rental — typically an expensive one, salary-wise. In a best-case scenario, that player will produce for two-plus months and then head back to free agency. In a worst-case scenario, he’ll suffer a major injury or see his performance tank, only to forgo the opt-out chance and stick the new club with an unwanted additional year (or years) of the contract in question. The acquiring team will understandably try to price that downside into the prospect return, making it difficult for the two parties to align.
On top of the difficulties surrounding Bregman’s salary and opt-out provision, he’s also been away from the field for more than a month. The Red Sox placed Bregman on the 10-day injured list with a strained quadriceps back on May 24. It was clear at the time that he was facing a lengthy absence. Bregman is inching closer to a return and could be back prior to the All-Star break, but an injury absence of nearly two months and a return only about two weeks prior to the trade deadline creates some risk (to say nothing of the potential for Bregman to struggle upon his return, which would only raise further questions).
Prior to his injury, Bregman was enjoying one of the finest starts of his entire career. He’s played 51 games and taken 226 plate appearances, turning in a stout .299/.385/.553 batting line with 11 homers and 17 doubles. His 9.7% walk rate is up three percentage points over last year’s career-low mark. Bregman was also striking out at a career-high 18.6% rate, but that’s still several points shy of league-average and the uptick in swing-and-miss was accompanied by major gains in batted-ball quality. The 31-year-old’s 92 mph average exit velocity is vastly higher than the 88.8 mph career mark he carried into the season. Ditto his 10.3% barrel rate (career 5.7% prior to ’25) and 48.1% hard-hit rate (career 37.7% prior to ’25).
Bregman is signed through 2027 on a three-year, $120MM contract. Deferrals bring the present-day annual value down closer to a reported $29MM. He can opt out of the contract both at the end of the current season and after the 2026 season but has spoken openly about his interest in signing a long-term extension that’d keep him in Boston more permanently. That’s not exactly a surprise for a player who entered last offseason seeking a long-term deal worth $200MM or more and wound up pivoting to an opt-out-laden, short-term deal with a lofty AAV once that long-term pact didn’t materialize, however.
Ultimately, while it’s fun to dream on the notion of a major trade involving someone of Bregman’s caliber, the specifics surrounding his contract and health — to say nothing of Boston’s uncertain buy/sell status four weeks out from the deadline — render it more a theoretical discussion than a genuine possibility at this stage.
The Mariners entered the 2025 season with a $146MM payroll — third-highest in franchise history. They’ve already added to that ledger with a surprising May claim of outfielder Leody Taveras, which didn’t pan out as hoped. That claim already showed a willingness from ownership to spend a bit more, however, and it bears mentioning that M’s ownership also green-lit payroll hikes for both the 2024 acquisition of Randy Arozarena and the 2022 acquisition of Luis Castillo (as well as his subsequent extension).
Have to give up even more for o’hearn or Naylor bc tean would otherwise get a 30s pick if they hold em
O’Hearn getting a QO would surprise me. He’d have to accept given what he’s made thus far.
Saying they’ll look into Bregman is just a PR exercise by the Mariners
Sad but true
To this day, Bregman (and Correa, Altuve, etc) are boo-ed mercilessly at T-mobile. We hate those dirty cheaters. So not sure it’s good PR to consider hiring one.
It’s embarrassing when we boo those guys 8 years after they won the division by 23 games. We won’t even be a footnote in the telling of the 2017 Astros and we act like they cost us a WS. A lot of teams cheat, but only one wins the WS each year. Any Mariner fan that would boo Bregman in the home whites has lost the plot.
Nobody thinks they cost us a ring or and nobody would boo any of them that became Mariners. Otherwise they’ll be booed forever because they got caught cheating and people don’t like cheaters, pretty simple. And it’s not just Seattle, it’s every visiting park they play in.
Hmmm- went to check today’s tape for boos outside of Seattle, but Bregman is on the DL, Houston is @COL, and Minnesota is @MIA… not the best data set -LOL
O’Hearn and Dominguez for 3 of Mariners top 15 prospects
Not likely for two rental players. Two prospects in the 11-30 range feels about right.
I agree
No rental will get a mlb top 100
austin shelten, michael morales and walter ford
Wishful thinking. The M’s won’t overpay, they aren’t close enough to sacrifice the future.
Does Harry Ford get either Naylor or O’hearns straight up?
I don’t get why Ford hasn’t been tested at 1B by now…
From what I have listened to they have tried a bit of 1st and left field. He is 5’8 so first might be a stretch. Nothing against Harry, he might be great, but we got Big Dumper.
And what if dumper goes down? I know terrible thought. Team can have two catchers…limit physical toll on each. One catches and one is dh.
Because he is only 5 ft 10 inches. Only position they have tried some is left field. Catcher is his true position.
Yeah you’re right he is 5’10 not 5’8. The book is still out on, if he is a viable big league catcher. If he can bat in the mlb like AAA I don’t care where he plays. That being said there have to be teams calling about him.
I’m sure are calling and have been for while. I think best thing is to keep him and have two of the best catchers and dh hitters in baseball
The only way that sounds bad is if Harry ford gives us a return that gets us a world series this year.
Seems like he is in their plans. DH plus 2x week catching next year?
I could see that, I could also see them trying to keep his “pure catcher” prospect status for trade value and that being why he isn’t up.
Ford is athletic enough to play OF and maybe 2B/3B.
If they keep him…
His value to the M’s is as a backup C/OF, taking advantage of Cal’s defense while not losing the DH. Honestly would be a dream roster construction scenario.
Obviously best right now to focus on refining his catching skills. If he’s still here in March, I’d expect him to work out in the OF corners.
Most mlb players are super athletic, I totally agree with the logic, but the majority of position change experiments don’t work out and few mlb plays play multiple positions. Not saying it can’t work.
Most catchers aren’t athletic enough to play MLB-level defense beyond 1B. Ford has the athleticism. If they’re going to keep him, they have to try him out somewhere. He isn’t going to replace Raleigh as starter any time soon.
I agree he could change positions, it would be awesome.
Ford is athletic enough but in the past I believe there has been rumblings he hasn’t enjoyed moving off catcher and learning other positions. The M’s broadcast also had an interesting anecdote the other day about how Ford doesn’t like to wear a baseball cap and it bothered him in the field.
I think best value is he and Cal both catch 3x a week and Cal is DH on the days Ford catches and vice versa. Doesn’t sound like Ford is super amazing behind the plate anyways
They tried last summer and it didn’t work, but trying in Spring with a major league promotion on the line could be different.
Im sure it would, but that is a steeeep price for a rental
I agree with you but a lot of mock trades I see have the mariners giving way more then what I think a rental should ask for.
Mariners deadline approach :
Jerry says he’s exploring all options and “in” on everyone that might be available.
Mariners ACTUAL deadline approach :
Jerry and ownership does nothing, OR trades their closer at the deadline. See ya Munoz…Just like they did with Graveman.
2022: Luis Castillo
2024: Randy Arozarena
In the last 3 years, they acquired the best pitcher once, and the best hitter once.
If you’re going to be a nattering nabob of negativity, fine. But maybe be realistic in your takes?
why would he want to let the truth get in the way of his long-held position?
Being realistic means expecting a championship level team every year, and putting those types of players on the field. Yes Luis and Randy are great gets…but it takes more than that to build a winner. Tough not to be negative after nearly 5 decades of mediocrity.
Always love how salty fans still are about a trade we easily, immediately won. Toro put up an entire WAR in like his first week or two with the team, while Graveman was mediocre for the rest of the season in Houston. Then for good measure the next year Toro even hit a walk off salami off of Graveman.
Rojas outplayed Sewald down the stretch two years later too
Yeah I did not care for that trade at the time but in retrospect we sold Sewald at the exact right moment
Dipoto will browse the aisle of O’Hearn, Suarez, and Naylor, but something tells me that at the end of the day the player in his cart he’ll push down the street is Jeimer Candelario. I hope I’m wrong!
And Seward… and Diaz…
It’s a Mariners go after Ryan Ohearn I would do something like
Mariners get
Ryan O’Hearn
Orioles get
Logan Evans(#10 mariner prospect)
Teddy McGraw (#17 mariner prospect
Logan Evans has started seven games. This year has looked good and a number of them, and he could fit in nicely in the Orioles rotation for years to come.
I’d take that trade, I think maybe Logan and someone outside our top 30 could maybe pull it off too.
For a rental player? Seems like a lot.
For O’hearn a M’s top 30 is to much. More like 2 propsects in the 30-45 range. O’hearn is to be a FA next year, Evans is in his 1st mlb year.
A long term young controllable starting #4 pitcher (with potential upside) is too steep a price for a rental. Good starting pitching is far more valuable/expensive.
The Mariners rank second in the American League with an OPS+ of 113 and 12th in the league with an ERA+ of 95. That’s a significant discrepancy.
The returns of George Kirby and Logan Gilbert should help but Seattle might need to bolster the pitching staff at the trade deadline.
The only starting pitcher that I know of that could potentially be on the market is Zach Eflin and maybe Drew Rasmussen
With the limited market for starting pitching, along with the high demand of teams needing starting pitching because of injuries if you’re wanting to trade for a starting pitcher you’re likely going to have to overpay considerably for a pitcher
Or maybe you over pay for a Emerson or Logan Evans?
They probably shouldn’t have traded Robbie Ray for Mitch Haniger, in hindsight. Just like they shouldn’t have traded Eugenio Suarez for nothing.
Why isn’t Geno in the conversation? He should be cheap being a rental and his salary. Get Geno for a 25-30 prospect or throw in a bunch of money and get Williamson. He has played awesome D and has. 245 ba. Didn’t look up other stats but he has been pretty good lately. Then we sign Geno for another year until Colt is ready.
Polanco needs to get and stay healthy so he can play 2nd and send Cole backdown. He has been better but still needs a bit more time to muscle up a bit. Williamson gained 20lbs of muscle before his Sr year. Cole needs maybe 10.
If we get Geno at 3rd and Naylor or OHearn at 1st that would look pretty good. Cole could stay at 2nd but Polanco if he can get hot again might be the better choice. With them looking at high priced players they must have no hope for Locklear he and Taylor are hitting the ball down there not sure what the hang up is. I would like to see us make a deep run and even make the WS. I kind of want the youngins all up and have them win it all for us.
I also wonder why they don’t try Williamson at 1st. He could gain some more muscle and be fine. He has the glove but not the power numbers for the position. He can hit ,250 and be fine. Get on for the top of the lineup and let them hit him in. OBP seems more important than power. They also need a LHPer. Trade Castillo and stick him in the middle of the lineup. Start signing those pitchers too. Get a couple to sign and Cal can use some persuasion to get the other 2.
Does Arizona need a catching prospect?
I know they’re rentals, but Ford could headline a package for Naylor and Suarez.
I mean 5 years of coast controlled catching for a year of free agent rentals gets it done for me. We have maybe the best farm system in baseball, every team has a top 30 prospects and ours are exponentially better then most teams. Our 10 prospects is the number one on some teams.
I think Geno is in but the d backs wait tell the last minute and get better hauls from other teams in first.
Why would they move Williamson to first when he’s one of the best-fielding third basemen in the league
I sure would like to see the Mariners force the Guardians’ hand by making a blockbuster offer for Jose Ramirez that CLE cannot refuse.
If not, Geno, O’Hearn, Kwan are my wishlist options for the offense.
For the bullpen, they should covet Fairbanks, Bednar, Bender, Maton, Erceg.
Ramirez has a no-trade clause and took a steep hometown discount to remain in Cleveland, there is no reason to think he’d be willing to play anywhere else.
I don’t see the Guardians trading Kwan, either.
When Jerry has made a trade it hasn’t been top prospects for a rental player. I don’t see him doing it this time., either. He is playing the long game. He wants a team that can compete in the WS not just win a wild card spot and be done.
Can’t imagine a world where John Stanton takes on the Bregman salary and all the deferred compensation. 40 million a year? 6 million a year after the contract expires? Not happening. Suarez maybe, but like Naylor, only if the Dbacks fall a hell of a lot more than 2.5 back.