The Baltimore Orioles announced a trade with the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night, swapping right-handed pitcher Grayson Rodriguez for outfielder Taylor Ward.
The deal marks the second trade for Baltimore this offseason, coming off a disappointing 2025 campaign. Right-handed relief pitcher Andrew Kittredge found himself back with the team following a trade for cash considerations earlier in November.
Rodriguez missed all of 2025 recovering from several injuries, including elbow inflammation, a lat strain, and elbow debridement surgery. He finished with a 13-4 record in 2024 with a 3.86 ERA and 130 strikeouts over 116 2/3 innings pitched. The 26-year-old is under team control until 2030, and won’t be eligible for arbitration until 2027.
Trade news: Taylor Ward is going to Baltimore and Grayson Rodriguez to the Los Angeles Angels. The Orioles get the power-hitting outfielder they’ve been seeking, and the Angels get back a young arm. Quite a trade. https://t.co/F8UqbbH7d8
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 19, 2025
Orioles Acquire Taylor Ward from Angels
What Does Taylor Ward Bring?
Baltimore suffered from a lack of offensive production in 2025, holding the seventh-worst batting average and striking out the fourth-most times. Their team OPS settled under .700 for the season as well. Several positions, including third base and the outfield, struggled to bring any production to the team.
Ward has seen an increase in production as his career continues, posting back-to-back seasons with a WAR value over two. In 2025, the outfielder posted a .228/.317/.792 slash line with a career-high 36 home runs and 103 RBI. He struck out 175 times in 579 at-bats for a 26% strikeout rate, however.
Taylor Ward (acquired by BAL) is an overly patient batter with a knack for barreling the ball. He knocked 36 HR in 2025 and posted a solid 117 wRC+ while manning LF
He is a free agent after 2026 pic.twitter.com/1dxu5zNob3
— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) November 19, 2025
When plugged into the 2025 Orioles lineup, he leads the team in home runs by far, along with RBI, and becomes the fourth player to have an OPS over .700. He would also lead the team in walks and strikeouts. At the same time, he holds one of the lowest chase rates in MLB, contributing to an 11% walk rate.
If Dylan Beavers takes right field and Colton Cowser plays center, Ward automatically slides into left field. His defense is questionable, netting an average of negative eight runs saved. This move is primarily to address the offensive woes rather than the defense.
How Will Baltimore’s Rotation Look Now?
The move for Ward by Baltimore suggests that the team isn’t confident in Rodriguez to return to form when he comes back. The team has Tyler Wells and Kyle Bradish returning from injury in 2026, which complicates matters. Given Rodriguez’s injury history, they wanted to sell high just in case the 26-year-old flamed out.
This could also signal that the team is feeling confident about signing a suitable replacement in free agency. They could also be gearing up for a trade, including a potential grab of Hunter Greene or Sandy Alcántara, to name a few. Maybe they put faith in a prospect, such as Michael Forret or Trey Gibson, next year.
Baltimore’s also been named a fit for left-handed pitcher Framber Valdez, one of the top starting pitchers on the market.
Main Photo Credit: Reggie Hildred-USA TODAY Sports
The post Orioles Move Young Pitcher for Veteran Bat to Bolster Lineup appeared first on Last Word On Baseball.