MLB trades are beginning to pick up as the offseason continues, with the latest significant move coming between the Orioles and the Angels on Tuesday night. Los Angeles is sending outfielder Taylor Ward to Baltimore in return for right handed pitcher Grayson Rodriguez, the Orioles announced.
Ward has spent the entirety of his eight-year career in Los Angeles. The Orioles were searching for a strong hitting outfielder this offseason, and Ward might be their answer to that gap.
Rodriguez didn’t play at all during the 2025 season because of multiple injuries, including undergoing a season-ending elbow debridement surgery. He’s played just two seasons prior to this year, both with the Orioles.
Ward may be a short-term solution for Baltimore as he’s set to become a free agent after the 2026 season, his final year under arbitration. On the other hand, Rodriguez isn’t set to become a free agent until 2029. The Orioles also are keeping their eye out for starting pitchers, so it’s interesting they traded one of theirs away before locking down another. But, Rodriguez’s health for next season is still up in the air as he hasn’t pitched in a game since July 31, 2024.
During the 2025 season, Ward averaged .228/.317/.475 with 132 hits, and recorded career highs with 36 home runs, 103 RBIs and 86 runs scored—an impressive year for the veteran outfielder.
In 20 game starts in 2024 when Rodriguez last competed, the pitcher posted a 3.86 ERA and 130 strikeouts over 116.2 innings pitched.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Angels Trade OF Taylor Ward to Orioles in Return for Starting Pitcher.
