The Mariners are reportedly seeking corner infield and bullpen help as the deadline approaches, and MLB.coms Daniel Kramer reported recently that ownership has signaled it will to facilitate such transactions. , writing that Mariners ownership will authorize increased spending for the front office to add to the roster while ticking through some potential options. Both of the Orioles and of the D-backs are viewed as likely trade candidates over the next month. Both would fit the Mariners nicely at first base, allowing to spend more time in the outfield, where hes more comfortable than at first base. However, early asking prices from both Baltimore and Arizona are quite high, per Jude. OHearn has repeatedly elevated his game in recent seasons and now stands as one of the most productive hitters in the American League. Hes 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, OHearn has proven himself to be a credible middle-of-the-order bat. He hasnt quite sustained last years enormous gains in contact rate, but hes 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 years career-high 31 homers are far more than OHearn has ever produced, though some of that is a simple function of playing time. Naylor logged 633 plate appearances in 2024 (a career-high); OHearn has never topped last years 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 hes 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, OHearn has been a bit more impactful in the batters box, but the pairs last three seasons are virtually identical. Naylor has slashed .279/.340/.472 in 1452 plate appearances, while OHearn has turned in a .280/.342/.455 line in 1144 plate appearances. Theyve 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 OHearns $8MM. Both are free agents at seasons end. In a more interesting but also far le s plausible scenario, Jude further reports that the Mariners would have interest if the Red Sox were to make available. That perhaps speaks to ownerships willingne s to add to the payroll, although presumably, the Ms would be looking for the Sox to at least help with some of Bregmans 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 ma sive scale of Bregmans annual salary only further muddies his candidacy. In broad terms, its 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 Alex Kovalev Jersey at seasons 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, hell 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 Bregmans salary and opt-out provision, hes 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. Hes 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 years career-low mark. Bregman was also striking out at a career-high 18.6% rate, but thats still several points shy of league-average and the uptick in swing-and-mi s was accompanied by major gains in batted-ball quality. The 31-year-olds 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 thatd keep him in Boston more permanently. Thats 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 didnt materialize, however. Ultimately, while its fun to dream on the notion of a major trade involving someone of Bregmans caliber, the specifics surrounding his contract and health to say nothing of Bostons uncertain buy/sell status four weeks out from the deadline render it more a theoretical discu sion than a genuine po sibility at this stage. The Mariners entered the 2025 season with a $146MM payroll third-highest in franchise history. Theyve already added to that ledger with a surprising May claim of outfielder , which didnt pan out as hoped. That claim already showed a willingne s from ownership to spend a bit more, however, and it bears mentioning that Ms ownership also green-lit payroll hikes for both the 2024 acquisition of and the 2022 acquisition of (as well as his subsequent extension). Jesse Puljujarvi Jersey