Early returns on Taylor Ward trade fail to spark cold Mariners' offense

After making a run in the postseason last year, the Seattle Mariners have looked like a much different team this year. Things are not coming as easily for this squad as they did last season. 

While the rotation is elite on paper, they have had a chink in their armor. Logan Gilbert and George Kirby have dealt with some command issues, but that's not all. 

The offense is struggling to get anything going. Julio Rodriguez has been inconsistent, and Cal Raleigh looks nothing like the slugger he did in 2025. 

MORE: Mariners 'insist' trade deadline plans didn't involve All-Star starter despite rumors

Early returns on Taylor Ward trade fail to spark cold Mariners' offense

Trying to get a little more offense going, the Mariners added Taylor Ward before the trade deadline. He was doing well with the Baltimore Orioles, but in his first week with Seattle, the results were not there. 

He went 4-for-23, and while it was not totally his fault, he did not help the Mariners win any series. They lost 1-2 against the Detroit Tigers and then were swept 3-0 in the series against the Tampa Bay Rays. 

With this, Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter bumps them down a few spots from No. 16 to No. 23 in his latest power rankings. 

"According to the postseason odds at FanGraphs, the Mariners dropped from a 50.5 percent chance of reaching the playoffs on deadline day to a 29.1 percent chance as of Sunday. Deadline addition Taylor Ward went 4-for-23 with zero walks in his first week in Seattle after walking an AL-leading 87 times in 111 games with the Orioles."

Things don't get any easier for the Mariners this week as they start a series against the New York Yankees and then one against the division rival, the Houston Astros. The offense will certainly have to wake up if they want to turn this thing around. 

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