The Seattle Mariners have a hitting problem.

It’s not the same problem as last year, where the whole lineup performed so poorly it had people blaming the climate and the dreaded “marine layer” for the team’s ineptitude. To their credit, they’re hitting pretty well overall — aside from this most recent series against the Yankees—combining for a team OPS of .726 to place them just slightly above the MLB average.

This year, the issue is far more specific and it comes from a position usually known for its output at the plate. In 2025, Seattle first basemen have combined for a dismal .538 OPS, 29th in MLB and just barely edging out the San Francisco Giants. So, if they want a chance to improve the biggest hole in their hitting, who are some targets they can pursue prior to this year’s trade deadline?

Mariners 1st Base Target: Ryan O’Hearn, Baltimore Orioles

After years of struggling on the Kansas City Royals, O’Hearn seems to have figured things out after joining the Orioles in 2023. While with Baltimore, he has posted a 125 OPS+ and he’s off to yet another hot start this year, slashing .287/.374/.519 with four doubles and seven home runs.

Unlike the Mariners’ current options, he profiles as a more typical first baseman, having a good average exit velocity of 91.1 mph and a hard-hit rate of 52.4 percent. He’s also striking out just 14.9 percent of the time against an 11.4 percent walk rate, a great balance. He does tend to be a streaky hitter and has historically struggled against offspeed pitches but he’d be a direct upgrade over what the team currently has at first base.

The best part is that he’s cheap. A true rental option, O’Hearn is owed a salary of just $8 million this year and is set to hit the market this winter. Thus, in a worst case scenario, the Mariners only have to pay part of this relatively meager amount and can choose to extend him or turn him loose at the conclusion of the season.

Furthermore, the Orioles are clearly floundering, largely due to their total lack of competitive pitching. Their playoff odds are already at 0.8 percent for Baseball Reference, so they should be sellers this summer and their need for arms could align well with what Seattle has to offer.

Mariners 1st Base Target: Nathaniel Lowe, Washington Nationals

Lowe was a model of consistency over his four-year tenure with the Texas Rangers. He averaged a respectable 122 OPS+ for that span and never dipped below the 112 mark.

That’s what made it slightly surprising that he was traded this past offseason only for his spot to be taken by Jake Burger, who has been disappointing to say the least. Lowe has had his ups and downs in his new surroundings but has still been effective at the plate, posting a 100 OPS+ over 183 plate appearances so far.

None of his Statcast metrics jump off the page, but a more detailed look at his hitter profile clearly shows us his strengths. First, his walk rate of 9.5 percent is still good even if it’s below his career average of 11.0. Second, while he isn’t hitting the ball much harder than the rest of the league, he is pulling it in the air at an above-average rate of 17.1 percent, a characteristic that allows him to get more value out of each batted ball — just ask Mookie Betts.

Much of his struggles have come against left-handed pitching, which has held him to a .491 OPS over 57 plate appearances. He’s still got a very respectable .807 OPS against right-handed pitchers, but this hole in his game could demand the need for a platoon option.