Orioles Acquire Taylor Ward in a Trade with the Angels
The Baltimore Orioles have finalized a trade with the Los Angeles Angels, acquiring outfielder Taylor Ward in exchange for right-handed pitcher Grayson Rodriguez. This strategic move aims to strengthen the needs of both teams, marking a significant change in their respective rosters.
The Orioles, looking for a power hitter to reinforce their outfield, get Ward, who is in his final season before becoming a free agent. For their part, the Angels, in need of a high-level starter, hope that Rodriguez, a promising prospect who was out of action in the 2025 season due to an injury, will meet their expectations.
Rodriguez, 26 years old and with four years of control, was selected in the number 11 position in 2018 and showed great potential in his first two seasons in the Major Leagues, recording an ERA of 4.11 with 259 strikeouts and 78 walks in 238⅔ innings from 2023 to 2024. However, an elbow injury, which arose in spring training of 2025 and reappeared in summer, forced him to undergo surgery, preventing him from playing throughout the season.
Despite this, Rodriguez is expected to be ready for spring training.
Ward, who will turn 32 next month, was originally selected as a catcher in 2015, then became a third baseman and finally found his place in left field. His biggest adjustment was the modification of his swing, which allowed him to develop a patient but powerful approach, which was fully manifested in the last two seasons. From 2024 to 2025, Ward batted .237/.320/.450 with 61 home runs and 178 RBIs, ranking 25th among 316 hitters in terms of chase rate.
By trading Ward, the Angels cleared an overpopulation of outfielders, including Mike Trout, Jo Adell, and Jorge Soler. The team is still looking to add a center fielder.
In the Orioles, Ward can provide consistent production in the outfield group alongside Colton Cowser and Tyler O’Neil. Rodriguez’s departure sharpens the Orioles’ need to seek help in the starting rotation.
Not long ago, Rodriguez was expected to lead the Orioles’ rotation. He had an ERA of 2.26 in the last 12 starts of his rookie season in 2023 and started 2024 with an ERA of 3.86 and 130 strikeouts in 116⅔ innings through the end of July. An injury forced him to miss the last two months, but the Orioles were counting on him to be a major contributor the following season.
His presence was an important reason why the management did not act more aggressively in seeking external help, and his injury became an important reason why the team did not meet expectations.
