Seattle Mariners Eye Taylor Ward Trade

The Seattle Mariners are considering a trade for Baltimore Orioles outfielder Taylor Ward, with ESPN MLB Insider Buster Olney speculating he's a 'perfect' fit for the team.

What's the current situation?

The Mariners are 6th in the American League with a 45-43 record, on a W3 streak, after beating the Los Angeles Angels 1-0 on July 3.

The team struggles against left-handers, with the current right-handed group failing to make an impact.

How could Ward help?

Ward, a nine-year veteran, has a robust .378 on-base percentage and could help the team against left-handers.

He has a $12 million dollar-ish salary, which will be heavily pro-rated by the deadline, making it a palatable number for the Mariners.

What are the roster implications?

The Mariners have three roster spots available, and acquiring Ward could lead to moving on from Rob Refsnyder or other players.

The team would need to consider having no true bench infielder, or relying on Brendan Donovan's versatility.

And the Mariners' current bench consists of Luke Raley, Robles, and Wilson, with Buddy Kennedy in the Donovan role.

But if the team acquires Ward, they could move on from the remaining Wilson or Kennedy spot.

So the Mariners must weigh the benefits of acquiring Ward against the potential roster challenges.

The team's standing and recent win will likely influence their decision-making process.