The Seattle Mariners have been holding their own recently, posting an 11-6 record over their last 17 games, with just one series loss in that span. However, their strong run hasn’t been enough to close the gap in the AL West. The Houston Astros have been even hotter and now sit six games ahead of the Mariners as of Tuesday morning.
Many believed coming into the 2025 season that the Astros’ reign in the division might finally be ending. Instead, Houston appears poised to win its eighth AL West title in nine years—and they might not be done strengthening their lineup.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Astros are actively targeting a left-handed bat ahead of the July 31 trade deadline, with Baltimore Orioles center fielder Cedric Mullins emerging as a top target. For the Mariners, that’s potentially bad news.
Though Mullins has had an inconsistent 2025 campaign, he’s still viewed as a high-upside player. A former All-Star and MVP candidate in 2021, Mullins brings elite speed and defensive range in center field. While his current numbers aren’t overwhelming—a .213 batting average, .708 OPS, and 101 wRC—he showed early-season flashes of brilliance, including a blistering .1.023 OPS over the first month.
He also missed time with a hamstring injury, which has affected his rhythm at the plate. Still, if the Astros manage to land Mullins and he returns to form, it could give Houston an even greater edge in the playoff push.
That’s exactly why the Mariners might want to consider flipping the script—and making a play for Mullins themselves.
With Víctor Robles sidelined and the Leody Taveras experiment falling flat, Seattle still has a need in the outfield. As Zachary Rymer suggested back in May, the Mariners could counter Houston’s interest by putting themselves in the race for Mullins.
It wouldn’t be a guaranteed home run—especially given Mullins’ slump and his $8.725 million salary—but it’s a move worth exploring. If Seattle is serious about staying in the division race, they need to be aggressive, not reactive.
Whether it’s Mullins or another piece, the Mariners must act fast—because the Astros clearly aren’t standing still.