Orioles trade: Orioles acquire Taylor Ward from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for RHP Grayson Rodriguez

46 comments

  10. What the fuck

    I know Grayson missed this year with injuries, but giving him up for 2 years of 32 year old Taylor Ward seems….odd.

    Edit: Or one year of Ward

  12. Wow a trade that I actually like for the angels? This might be the first time I’ve said that in my Reddit account history.

    Grayson might be cooked because of injuries, but the Angels aren’t a 32 year old outfielder away, and Rodriguez is an extremely exciting starter.

  20. Wonder if Mike can help Rodriguez pitch in a manner to not get hurt consistently.

    Not a name I expected to see moved.

  26. The O’s really must think GRod is still nowhere close to being ready to pitch significantly for them to make this trade. He missed this entire past season because of two different injuries so their concerns must be very real.

    But now this means the O’s either need or have a plan to get starting pitching. Otherwise they’re fucked.

  28. Well that’s interesting. Maybe the Orioles are looking to move one of their OFs? This makes it Ward, Beavers, Cowser, Kjerstad, O’Neill and then Enrique Bradfield knocking on the door.

  29. My tinfoil hat is telling me the Angels don’t want to pay Ward arbitration and they’re betting on Rodriguez to become trade bait before he’s eligible for arbitration himself.

    Halos get Ward off the books and the O’s get a needed veteran presence. Win-Win.

  33. TAYLOR WARD IS OUT OF THE AL WEST

    Smiling through it all!!!!!! Can’I believe this is my life

  34. They must absolutely think this is the year to go for it, and Ward has been super productive for the last couple seasons. Grayson just couldnt stay healthy unfortunately, I like the move but wish Grayson could’ve taken that next step more. Im torn by this one.

  36. legendary angels instagram shitposter @taylorwardlover is absolutely in SHAMBLES.

    and today’s his birthday 😭 and they traded away his pride and joy

  37. No way the Orioles trade Grayson Rodriguez if they didn’t believe he was still injured and can’t be relied on.

    The Angels were going to lose Ward next offseason anyway. So maybe it is a worthy gamble. But maybe we could have gotten someone who didn’t just miss the entire season with an injury?

  38. O’s must be cooking something for an ace. I’ll miss you, Grayson. Too bad his elbow’s cooked.

  39. What’s the orioles intention here? Aren’t they loaded on the diamond and in the field with under 26 high potential stars but need pitching? Idk, I don’t follow em on the nitty gritty details of how the build is going there. 

  43. I guess I understand that they wanted better pitching or at least less injured but don’t the Os already have a logjam at OF? I feel like there’s a half dozen Heston Kjerstad type players on the 40 man, or at least decent prospect types, no?

  44. A bit sad bc Ward was one of our most reliable contributors, but it feels like a good gamble to take

  45. I guess I’m in the minority here, but why are people so convinced that an injury prone 26 year old with a career ERA+ of under 100, who hasn’t thrown a pitch in 16 months, and who was shut down multiple times this year with more elbow pain, is still some sort of elite prospect?

    I get that he’s talented, I get that he had a lot of hype as an actual prospect, and yes he was respectable when he broke in, but reality says that he’s simply a league average pitcher who has lost velocity and can’t stay healthy.

    I get why the Angels would roll the dice on him, but Taylor Ward is a good hitter and this unquestionably makes the Orioles a better team in 2026.

  46. Yeah what are the Orioles doing over there? I get you think Rodriguez might not ever be healthy but moving him for *only* Taylor Ward is mind boggling.

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