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Prior to the start of the MLB season, it was a bit unclear as to who would be the best team in the AL West.
The Houston Astros lost both Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman. The Texas Rangers were getting back a healthy Jacob deGrom, as well as adding Joc Pederson to the lineup. How good would the Athletics be in their first season in a new ballpark? Could the Angels take that next step in year two under manager Ron Washington?
The one team that didn't really make a ton of moves and didn't have too many questions surrounding its team was the Seattle Mariners. And that very well may be the reason why Seattle currently sits in first place in the division.
Even as it sits atop the AL West, Seattle could still use improvements on its roster to truly make itself the team to beat in the division. Here are three players the Mariners should target prior to the trade deadline.
Pablo Lopez, SP, Minnesota Twins
Lopez's likelihood of being dealt may have fallen over the last week thanks to the Twins' eight-game winning streak. Minnesota just finished off a sweep of the San Francisco Giants and now plays Baltimore (who it just swept) for the second time in three series.
If the Twins hit a rough patch again, Lopez would be a prime candidate to improve a Mariners starting rotation that currently has the sixth-worst Wins Above Average among starting rotations at minus-0.6.
Lopez's 2.77 ERA would be the second best in the Mariners rotation, only trailing Logan Gilbert's 2.37 ERA. His 43 strikeouts would be second to Gilbert and Bryan Woo, who each have 44. If he or any other top-level starting pitchers become available, Seattle should jump on the phone to try and acquire one.
Ryan O' Hearn, 1B/OF, Baltimore Orioles
O'Hearn has been one of the lone bright spots on an Orioles team that has quite frankly fallen flat on its face to begin the season. Baltimore has the second-worst record in the American League and fifth worst in all of baseball.
The current first baseman for the Mariners is Rowdy Tellez, who is batting just .200 with six home runs. O'Hearn is hitting over 100 points higher at .303 with seven home runs and a .950 OPS in 99 at-bats.
He would instantly make the Mariners lineup better as well as provide better defensive stability at first base. Seattle currently ranks 22nd in Wins Above Average among first basemen at minus-0.8. O'Hearn could drastically improve that for the Mariners and give them a reliable option at first on a daily basis.
Robert Suarez, RP, San Diego Padres
This one may be a bit far-fetched, as it seems unlikely the Padres will trade anyone with the start to the season they are having.
It's not impossible, however, as it is well-known that AJ Preller is not afraid to strike a big deal at any given time if the price is right. Adding Suarez to a backend of the bullpen that already features closer Andrés Muñoz (18 games, 0.00 ERA) would almost be unfair.
Those two could be relied on to get anywhere from three to nine outs on any given day and if a deal of that magnitude is reached, the duo might be the most unhittable and dominant eighth- and ninth-inning duo in baseball.
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About the writer
Andrew Wright is a Newsweek contributor based in Lancaster, South Carolina. His focus is MLB content. Andrew has been with ... Read more