"The trade represented something of a long-term goal for the front office, as Elias said Ward is "s omebody that we've been chasing for at least for a couple years, just because of the profile, the big right-handed power." Adding Ward brought more balance to a Baltimore lineup that was pretty heavy in left-handed bats, and finally making the move to obtain him now was related to both the Orioles' needs and broader market conditions. " I wasn't confident where else somebody like him would come from on the free agent and trade market right now that has the sort of bat that we think he has and what he did last year," Elias said."
"With this perceived scarcity in mind, the Orioles were ultimately willing to move Rodriguez, which counted as a surprise on many levels. Injuries have kept G-Rod off a big league mound since July 31, 2024, yet it wasn't long ago that the former top prospect was viewed as a building block of the Orioles' rotation. Rodriguez also isn't slated for free agency until after the 2029 season, whereas Ward is controlled through just the 2026 season."
The Orioles acquired Taylor Ward from the Angels in a one-for-one trade that sent Grayson Rodriguez to Los Angeles. Ward provides a big right-handed power profile and helps balance a Baltimore lineup that had been heavy in left-handed bats. The move reflected a perceived scarcity of similar bats in the free-agent and trade markets and the club's immediate offensive needs. Rodriguez had been considered a rotation building block but has been sidelined by injuries since July 31, 2024. Rodriguez is controllable through 2029 while Ward is controlled only through 2026, creating a control mismatch the team accepted.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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