Starting right-handed pitcher Grayson Rodriguez said that he wasn’t required to get a physical before the Baltimore Orioles traded him to the Los Angeles Angels, per comments made to Todd Frazier on Foul Territory.

The O’s traded Rodriguez to the Angels on Tuesday for outfielder Taylor Ward.

Per Jake Rill of MLB.com, Rodriguez hasn’t pitched since July 31, 2024. His 2024 ended early due to right lat/teres discomfort. He then missed all of 2025 with elbow and lat injuries and ultimately underwent debridement surgery on his right elbow.

The 26-year-old Rodriguez was once one of the Orioles’ top prospects. Selected 11th overall in the 2018 MLB draft, Rodriguez rose as high as No. 2 in the Orioles’ farm system, per MLB.com.

Rodriguez made his MLB debut in 2023. Over two seasons, Rodriguez went 20-8 with a 4.11 ERA (1.29 WHIP) and 9.8 K/9 rate in 43 starts. He notably struck out eight batters in five of his last eight starts in 2024.

So Rodriguez has certainly shown potential in a limited amount of time. The question is whether he can stay healthy.

The hope is certainly that Rodriguez can return to form and showcase the potential that made him a first-round pick out of high school seven years ago.

He’ll certainly have a chance to do so for the Angels, who haven’t won a playoff game since 2009 and need to figure out some answers quickly to turn around a franchise that’s finished no higher than third since 2017. The latest Roster Resource depth chart projects Rodriguez slotting as the No. 4 starter in the Angels rotation.

It’s still ultimately surprising that Rodriguez didn’t have to go through any medical testing before the trade went through. However, the Angels are also being careful with him in 2026, as noted by Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic.

“He will start throwing bullpens in January and be ready for spring training, Angels general manager Perry Minasian told reporters Tuesday. But like the Orioles, the Angels expect his workload during the season to be limited because of all the time he missed.”

This could be a great win for the Angels if Rodriguez stays healthy and showcases the strikeout capabilities shown in 2024. The Angels’ pitching struggled in 2025 (4.89 ERA), and Rodriguez can certainly help improve that mark.