The Seattle Mariners are playing great baseball and defeated the Houston Astros in their first game of the second half.

 

At 52-45, Seattle is just four games back from the Astros for first place in the American League West and tied with the Boston Red Sox for the second AL Wild Card spot.

All eyes have been on Most Valuable Player candidate Cal Raleigh, and rightfully so. He could end up having the greatest offensive season by a catcher in history.

While the “Big Dumper” has had an incredible season and carried the Mariners to this point, the Mariners need to add a big bat to the middle of the lineup.

FanSided’s Quinn Everts devised three trades the Mariners must make to not waste Raleigh’s historic season, including trading for for an All-Star first baseman/designated hitter.

The Baltimore Orioles should be massive sellers at the trade deadline and Ryan O’Hearn is expected to be on the move.

“I am a Luke Raley enjoyer, for the record,” wrote Everts. “I’m confident he’ll heat up in the second half (currently posting an OPS of .703) but O’Hearn adds extra depth at first base and, perhaps more importantly, gives the M’s a consistent and powerful designated hitter they can play every night.

“O’Hearn has struggled against lefties (.608 OPS) but he brings enough pop overall and there isn’t a perfect hitter out there this deadline, so the M’s shouldn’t think twice and make the call to an Orioles team that might be willing to sell.”

O’Hearn, 31, is having a solid season and was selected as an All-Star for the first time this year.

The lefty utility man has 11 home runs and 34 RBI while slashing .283/.381/.453 in 83 games. O’Hearn would be a great fit in Seattle and can play first base and the corner outfield spots if needed.

Expect the Mariners to be aggressive for a bat in the coming weeks.