​Replied rumors surrounding the Seattle Mariners have tied in both Taylor Ward and Willson Contreras, a topic that originally appeared in The Sporting News. The article also encourages readers to add The Sporting News as a preferred source by clicking a link. The Mariners would love to add another talented right-handed hitter to an already fairly strong lineup as the trade deadline nears, hoping to uncover further depth options.
In a new piece published Thursday, ESPN’s Jeff Passan outlines potential trade targets for each organization, including the Mariners. He identifies Orioles outfielder Taylor Ward as the “best match” for Seattle and Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras as the “dream match.” Ward, who previously played for the Angels, has been a solid contributor for Baltimore, a club that hasn’t fully met expectations this season. Passan notes that Ward is “the best of the likely accessible bunch, and he is a completely different player than the 36-homer slugger last year.” He points out that only Mike Trout, Nick Quintana, and James Wood have higher walk rates than Ward’s 16.5 percent. With Rob Refsnyder’s struggles in providing a right-side platoon, and neither Victor Robles nor Buddy Kennedy emerging as clear answers, Ward’s on-base ability and relatively low strikeout rate would represent a meaningful upgrade for Seattle.
Contreras, meanwhile, is enjoying a career year at the plate. However, his inability to contribute in the outfield could limit the Mariners’ upside from such a move. Passan writes that “the most meaningful upgrade would come from Contreras, who has been one of the 10 best hitters in baseball this season.” Yet adding Contreras would exacerbate Seattle’s already crowded first-base/DH mix, placing substantial pressure on manager Scott Servais to juggle playing time and personalities. The added complication of Contreras’ potential to block any trade makes this a difficult dream to realize in practice.
Seattle came tantalizingly close to a World Series appearance last season, and the team remains determined to make a move that could push them over the top this season. The upcoming weeks will determine whether they can identify and land the upgrade they need. Commentary also touches on a broader landscape, including how a Dodgers–Yankees skirmish over Tarik Skubal might unfold, why the Phillies could be positioned for a Byron Buxton deal, and reflections on Joe Ryan’s impact on Red Sox considerations. The piece also notes how the Dodgers took 92 games to achieve what many MLB teams accomplish more quickly, while Kyle Schwarber’s pursuit of a Babe Ruth-like milestone is mentioned in the context of improving search optimization.