The Baltimore Orioles have traded starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez to the Los Angeles Angels for outfielder Taylor Ward. Rodriguez missed the entire 2025 season with an injury and still remains under team control through 2029. In his two years in the big leagues so far Rodriguez amassed 238 2/3 innings and 259 strikeouts with a 4.11 ERA and 20 wins with only eight losses. Ward comes into Camden Yards after eight years in Anaheim totaling 9.9 career WAR. He is also coming off a 2025 season where he notched career highs in home runs, 36, and runs batted in with 103.
Taylor Ward’s Role
Coming into the offseason Orioles President of Baseball Operations Mike Elias had said the team was going to be aggressive. He stated that the team is “Going to go out in the market, see what we’re able to do to improve the team. But we’ll definitely be behaving as buyers this season, whether it’s free agency or trade”. He said the team was looking for three major roles. A frontline starter, a back-end reliever with closing experience, and an veteran bat to fill out the outfield. Taylor Ward has been tabbed as the man to fill that outfield void.
Ward holds a career slash line of .257/.327/.439 and an OPS+ of 117 since 2022. in 2025, Ward had career highs in home runs, doubles, RBI, slugging percentage, and runs scored. His eight-year career adds to the veteran presence in the outfield joining Tyler O’Neill amongst the young outfielders like Colton Cowser, Jeremiah Jackson, and Dylan Beavers.
Grayson Rodriguez’s Departure
The former No. 1 overall prospect in baseball in 2021 per MLB.com, Rodriguez leaves the Orioles after three seasons. His tenure was marred by injury. He missed the last couple months of 2024 and the entirety of 2025 with multiple arm issues. Rodriguez arm talent was impressive with a mid to upper 90’s fastball and a career K/9 of 9.8.
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Rodriguez also has another four years of team control and only just turned 26. The future is still bright for the former top prospect and the Angels hope to capitalize on his upside.
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