The Houston Astros went on a run to end the first half of the 2025 season, finishing with a 56-40 record through their first 96 games. That late surge helped them open up a five-game lead in the American League West.
But there’s still plenty of baseball left.
The Astros have been hit hard by injuries this season, and they’re going to need to address some areas of the roster. They could use a bat to boost their lineup, and Ryan O’Hearn from the Baltimore Orioles might be the answer.
Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report proposed the idea of Houston targeting the Orioles slugger.
“The Astros will need to get a bat before the deadline passes. They don’t have a ton to barter with in this respect, but it also might not take much to land a Ryan O’Hearn or a Cedric Mullins.”
O’Hearn was named an All-Star for the first time this season, even starting as the designated hitter for the AL squad. That’s not bad for a guy who’s bounced around the league.
The 31-year-old slugger hit .286/.382/.458 with 11 home runs, 34 RBI and an .840 OPS in the first half. With Baltimore out of contention, he’ll be a big trade piece.
Houston doesn’t have the strongest farm system, but if it doesn’t take much to land a bat like O’Hearn, then it would be wise for them them to jump on the opportunity.
The Astros stumbled a little at the end of the first half. But if they boost their starting lineup, they could very well find a way to bounce back and continue to run away with the AL West.
It’ll be interesting to see where Houston lands in its search for a bat. O’Hearn seems like the type of veteran presence that could make a difference down the stretch.
