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 attributable to a number of arm accidents. Ward can be a free agent after 2026.
On a day full of minor offers and roster shuffling, Baltimore and Los Angeles saved the most effective for final. The Orioles are transport out one in every of 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 damage 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 below workforce management by means of 2029. Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias informed reporters again in September that the righty was anticipated to be prepared for spring coaching. Final week, Elias informed 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 an everyday in 2022, the 31-year-old has launched 98 homers with first rate plate self-discipline and effective 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 ultimate 12 months of arbitration. He was a first-round choose 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 discipline, however has performed solely left discipline since 2023. He’ll enter an unsettled outfield combine that features Colton Cowser, Tyler O’Neill, and Leody Taveras. Children Dylan Beavers and Heston Kjerstad can even be concerned, although the Ward addition can 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 embody Gustavo Campero, Bryce Teodosio, and Matthew Lugo. High prospect Nelson Rada might additionally push for a roster spot.
It’s a stunning finish to Rodriguez’s tenure with the membership that chosen him eleventh general in 2018. He rapidly rose by means of the minors, with large 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 large 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 on issues in his first stint, whereas placing out almost a batter per inning. Rodriguez was shelled by the Rangers within the ALDS, however the ultimate three months of the common season steered Baltimore had their ace of the longer term.
The 2024 marketing campaign noticed Rodriguez push his strikeout price to 26.5% whereas trimming his stroll price to 7.3%. He notched his first double-digit strikeout recreation in Could, placing out 10 towards Boston. Rodriguez piled up 13 wins by means of 20 begins till a shoulder subject ended his season in August. A top quality begin and victory over Toronto on the ultimate day of July would find yourself being his final begin with the workforce.
Baltimore’s rotation can 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 steady past him. Tyler Wells is predicted to return to a beginning function 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 up to now two seasons to assist eat innings. They may very well be dipping again into that pool of pitchers to fill out the rotation this offseason.
