The Boston Red Sox are currently 27-31, fourth place in the American League East. The team is nine-and-a-half games back from the first place New York Yankees.
Boston’s starting pitching has dragged them down aside from left-hander Garrett Crochet, and the bullpen is middle of the pack in terms of ERA.
The Red Sox have swung the bat well, except for the cleanup spot in the lineup. There’s a glaring hole there and at first base since Triston Casas ruptured his left patellar tendon on May 2.
Boston has tried fixing the problem internally, but it hasn’t amounted to much. However, there is a divisional foe that could help the Red Sox fix these problems.
Baltimore Orioles right fielder/first baseman Ryan O’Hearn is expected to be on the trade block and would be a nice fit in the middle of Boston’s lineup.
O’Hearn, 31, is having an excellent offensive season with the Orioles. He hasn’t driven in many runs, but Baltimore hasn’t been producing many runs.
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O’Hearn has nine home runs with 21 RBI and is slashing an impressive .338/.427/.550 in 46 games this season. His .977 OPS is fourth in Major League Baseball, behind only Aaron Judge, Freddie Freeman and Shohei Ohtani.
He is an average defender, and while Baltimore has been using him more at designated hitter and right field because of Ryan Mountcastle, he is a natural first baseman and would be an upgrade for the Red Sox.
O’Hearn is making $8 million and will be an unrestricted free agent after the 2025 season.
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