The Los Angeles Angels announced Wednesday they traded left-fielder Taylor Ward to the Baltimore Orioles in return for right-handed starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez. The trade came after rumors that the Angels might be looking to move Ward, given he was in the final year of his contract and soon to enter free agency.
Ward recorded his best offensive season as an Angel this year, with a career-high 36 home runs and 103 RBIs, on top of a .475 slugging average. Although his batting average was on the lower end at .228, he made up for it with his sheer offensive power, ranking in the top-10 in the league in home runs and 11th in RBIs.
While one could argue it was the right time for the Angels to cash in their chips and sell high, there are doubts that Rodriguez was not the right target for what LA needs.
This season, the Angels’ pitching staff was rated 28th in the MLB, a clear weak point for the team that must be addressed if they want any hope of breaking their 11-season playoff drought. It was clear the Angels needed someone to bolster their bullpen, and the front office decided on Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is a former top prospect and is considered one of the most promising pitchers that the Orioles have seen in quite some time. He is known for his high strikeout ability stemming from his vast mix of pitches. In his second season in the major leagues, Rodriguez played 20 games, recording 13 wins and seven losses. On paper, his potential alone seems like a great idea for a team that needs some promising pitchers.
However, the 26-year-old missed the entire 2025 MLB season due to elbow surgery.
Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias said Rodriguez is “A guy that provides a real wild card for us talent-wise,” a fair statement given his high potential when he is healthy.
While it’s positive news to see the Angels targeting talent to fix their pitching deficiencies, they need to get someone who’s more reliable. They are not in a position where they can afford to take risks, especially with a lacking bullpen.
If they sign a few reliable players and form a solid pitching foundation, then the trade would make sense. However, it is not wise to risk another losing season on a pitcher who might not even be able to play if injuries continue to plague him.
The Angels’ risk will pay off, however, if Rodriguez can stay healthy while he plays for the Halos and performs like the prospect he was projected to be.