Could New Team Spoil Red Sox’s Pursuit Of Ryan O’Hearn?

The Boston Red Sox were put in a difficult position in early May when first baseman Triston Casas suffered a season-ending knee injury while running out a routine ground ball. While Abraham Toro and Romy González have done an admirable job filling the slugger’s void, the Red Sox remain a team to watch to acquire a first baseman ahead of Major League Baseball’s trade deadline on Thursday.

When the Arizona Diamondbacks traded Josh Naylor to the Seattle Mariners last week, it was widely expected that competition for Baltimore Orioles All-Star first baseman/designated hitter Ryan O’Hearn would be fierce, with impact options at first base a scarce commodity in the days leading up to the deadline.

With established interest from the Red Sox well known at this point, a report from the Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal has connected O’Hearn to the National League Central division-leading Milwaukee Brewers.

“The Milwaukee Brewers, who acquired catcher Danny Jansen from the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday, are among the teams interested in the Baltimore Orioles’ Ryan O’Hearn,” said Rosenthal. “While O’Hearn would not be a perfect fit for Milwaukee, the team could find at-bats for him at first base, in left field and at designated hitter.”

Citing a lack of power in the Brewers’ lineup with first baseman/designated hitter Rhys Hoskins expected to be sidelined until mid-August, Rosenthal believes Milwaukee could target O’Hearn to add a little more thump to the team’s batting order.

“The Brewers, however, entered Monday ranked 21st in slugging percentage by left-handed hitters and 23rd in home runs,” said Rosenthal. “O’Hearn, 32, was batting only .218 with a .648 OPS since May 27. But among the Brewers, only Yelich (19) and Jackson Chourio had exceeded his total of 12 homers.”

Following an untimely shoulder injury to All-Star closer Félix Bautista last week that all but closed the door on the Baltimore Orioles selling high on the hard-throwing right-hander, O’Hearn appears to be the team’s biggest asset to deal at the deadline after trading reliever Gregory Soto to the New York Mets last week.