The Baltimore Orioles acquired outfielder Taylor Ward from the Los Angeles Angels for right-hander Grayson Rodriguez, the team announced Tuesday.
Ward, who turns 32 next month, slashed .228/.317/.792 and contributed 2.9 fWAR last season. Ward has spent the entirety of his eight year career in the majors with the Angels. He can enter free agency in 2027.
Rodriguez, 26, missed all of last season due to surgery on his pitching elbow. The 2018 first-round pick hasn’t pitched in the majors since July 31, 2024, finishing that season on the IL because of a strained lat.
In 238⅔ career innings, Rodriguez is 20-8 with a 4.11 ERA and 259 strikeouts to 78 walks. He’s arbitration eligible in 2027 and won’t hit free agency until 2030.
