Mariners lose to A's 6-1 on July 30, but the big news is the call-up of Tyler Locklear and activation of Josh Naylor. See what's next for Seattle's lineup.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Forget the final score from Sacramento for a moment. While the Mariners dropped a frustrating 6-1 game to the Athletics, the real action happened off the field. Top first base prospect Tyler Locklear was pulled from his Triple-A game Tuesday night, and it wasn't for a trade—he's getting the call to the big leagues. This move, hot on the heels of activating newly acquired slugger Josh Naylor, sends a clear message: the Mariners are shuffling the deck and aren't done making moves.
Randy Arozarena just tied Mike Trout for the third-most 20/20 seasons in American League history with his fifth consecutive campaign.
The Mariners' infield is getting a major facelift. Josh Naylor, acquired from the Diamondbacks, was officially activated and slotted in as the everyday first baseman, bringing his .292 average and 59 RBI to the heart of the order. To make room, utility man Miles Mastrobuoni was optioned to Tacoma. But the bigger surprise was the promotion of Tyler Locklear. With Naylor locking down first, Locklear's arrival suggests a new role, perhaps as a designated hitter or a power bat off the bench, adding another layer of offensive depth. The corresponding roster move for Locklear hasn't been announced, leaving fans to speculate on what comes next.
Even with the Naylor and Locklear additions, the front office is still working the phones. Reports indicate the Mariners are aggressively pursuing upgrades for both the bullpen and third base before the trade deadline. After addressing the middle-of-the-order power with Naylor, shoring up the late innings and finding a consistent contributor at the hot corner are the final pieces of the puzzle for a team determined to make a deep playoff run.
Tuesday night's game was a stark reminder of why the team is adding bats. The Mariners' offense went silent against A's starter Luis Severino, managing just one run on a Jorge Polanco RBI. The team struck out 11 times and went a dismal 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position, leaving nine men stranded. Starter Logan Evans had a rough outing, giving up six runs and surrendering home runs to Brent Rooker and Shea Langeliers, dropping his record to 4-4. It was a clunker of a game the team will be eager to put behind them.
The brightest spot in the loss was another historic achievement for Randy Arozarena. With his 20th home run of the year, he officially notched his fifth consecutive 20/20 season (20 homers, 20 steals). This incredible consistency ties him with Mike Trout for the third-most 20/20 seasons in AL history, trailing only Alex Rodriguez (six) and José Ramírez (seven). In a game where little went right, Arozarena once again proved he's one of the most dynamic players in baseball.
With Bryan Woo (8-5, 2.91 ERA) taking the mound for the series finale, the Mariners have a great chance to bounce back and take the series. But all eyes will remain on the front office. The Locklear promotion is just the beginning. With the trade deadline fast approaching, the next 48 hours could define the Mariners' path to October. Buckle up, it's going to be a wild ride.
