The Orioles have traded right-hander Grayson Rodriguez to the Angels for outfielder Taylor Ward. The Angels have additionally introduced the commerce. Rodriguez missed the complete 2025 season as a result of a number of arm accidents. Ward will likely be a free agent after 2026.
On a day full of minor offers and roster shuffling, Baltimore and Los Angeles saved one of the best for final. The Orioles are delivery out one among their most promising arms for the reason that Dylan Bundy/Kevin Gausman period. Rodriguez was electrical at occasions since his 2023 debut, however accidents have marred his profession. The 26-year-old was sidelined with shoulder irritation and a lat pressure this previous 12 months. A shoulder harm value him half of the 2024 marketing campaign. Accidents in 2022 restricted him to 75 2/3 minor league innings and probably delayed his big-league debut.
Rodriguez is beneath group management by way of 2029. Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias advised reporters again in September that the righty was anticipated to be prepared for spring coaching. Final week, Elias advised reporters, together with Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Banner, that Rodriguez “supplies an actual wild card for us talent-wise.” Elias will now play that card, turning Rodriguez right into a 12 months of a reliable energy bat.
Ward hit a career-high 36 residence runs final season. Since changing into a daily in 2022, the 31-year-old has launched 98 homers with first rate plate self-discipline and wonderful run manufacturing. Ward’s batting common slipped to .228 final season, however his slugging proportion jumped to a career-high .475. He drove in 100+ runs for the primary time as an enormous leaguer, whereas scoring a career-best 86 occasions.
MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz initiatives Ward to earn $13.7MM in his last 12 months of arbitration. He was a first-round decide by the Angels again in 2015. Ward tore up minor-league pitching at every degree, reaching Triple-A by 2018. He slashed a sturdy .352/.442/.537 with Salt Lake, incomes a big-league callup on the finish of that season. Ward scuffled in 40 video games with the Angels and located himself again with the Bees. He bounced between each ranges for a few seasons earlier than lastly cementing his spot with the big-league membership in 2022. Ward broke out with 23 residence runs over 135 video games with LA, ending his first full MLB season with a 136 wRC+.
Ward got here up as a catcher, however moved to the nook infield spots as he superior within the Angels’ system. He performed principally third base in his early MLB years, earlier than transitioning to the outfield. Ward spent a while in heart and proper subject, however has performed solely left subject since 2023. He’ll enter an unsettled outfield combine that features Colton Cowser, Tyler O’Neill, and Leody Taveras. Kids Dylan Beavers and Heston Kjerstad can even be concerned, although the Ward addition will likely be one other roadblock to constant at-bats for them.
Ward’s departure leaves the Angels with Jo Adell, Jorge Soler, and a few query marks within the outfield. With Mike Trout penciled in at DH, the outfield alternate options embrace Gustavo Campero, Bryce Teodosio, and Matthew Lugo. High prospect Nelson Rada may additionally push for a roster spot.
It’s a shocking finish to Rodriguez’s tenure with the membership that chosen him eleventh total in 2018. He shortly rose by way of the minors, with huge strikeout numbers propelling him to the highest of prospect lists. MLB.com ranked Rodriguez behind solely Adley Rutschman in Baltimore’s system again in 2022, whereas slotting him at sixth amongst all prospects. He was the top-ranked pitcher on the board.
Rodriguez didn’t hit the bottom working within the massive leagues, recording an unpleasant 7.35 ERA over his first 10 begins. He was despatched again to Triple-A to regroup, and returned with a vengeance. Rodriguez put up a 2.58 ERA throughout 13 begins after getting recalled. He cleaned up the management points that had brought about issues in his first stint, whereas putting out almost a batter per inning. Rodriguez was shelled by the Rangers within the ALDS, however the last three months of the common season instructed Baltimore had their ace of the longer term.
The 2024 marketing campaign noticed Rodriguez push his strikeout charge to 26.5% whereas trimming his stroll charge to 7.3%. He notched his first double-digit strikeout recreation in Could, putting out 10 in opposition to Boston. Rodriguez piled up 13 wins by way of 20 begins till a shoulder challenge ended his season in August. A high quality begin and victory over Toronto on the ultimate day of July would find yourself being his final begin with the group.
Baltimore’s rotation will likely be headlined by Trevor Rogers and Kyle Bradish heading into 2026. Dean Kremer has been a dependable supply of innings, however the choices are much less secure past him. Tyler Wells is anticipated to return to a beginning position after returning late final season from UCL surgical procedure. Cade Povich has made 36 begins over the previous two seasons, however his profession ERA is over 5.00. Brandon Younger and Chayce McDermott have additionally struggled of their restricted big-league alternatives. The Orioles have added veterans like Zach Eflin, Charlie Morton, and Kyle Gibson previously two seasons to assist eat innings. They might be dipping again into that pool of pitchers to fill out the rotation this offseason.
