The Baltimore Orioles made one of the most notable early moves of the offseason, acquiring Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward in exchange for left-handed starter Grayson Rodriguez. The deal immediately sparked debate across the league, with many questioning whether Baltimore paid too steep a price for a player who is only under team control for one more season.
Ward, who has delivered steady offensive production in recent years, is set to reach free agency after the 2026 campaign. Rodriguez, meanwhile, offers long-term value. Despite missing the 2025 season due to injury, he is expected to be ready for Spring Training and remains under club control through 2029. Before the injury, the former first-round pick appeared to be emerging as a prominent fixture in Baltimore’s rotation. In 2024, he went 13–4 with a 3.86 ERA across 20 starts, showing the promise that made him one of the organization’s most highly regarded young arms.
Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias defended the decision, noting Ward’s offensive profile as a major factor in the team’s pursuit. Elias described Ward as “somebody that we’ve been chasing for at least a couple years, just because of the profile — the big right-handed power.” He added that he wasn’t confident the team could find a comparable bat on either the free-agent or trade markets.
On the difficulty of parting with Rodriguez, Elias acknowledged the discomfort that often comes with major trades. “Grayson’s a great kid. We loved bringing him up in this organization… and he’s got a bright future. And sometimes, trades are a part of baseball,” he said.
While the price was costly, Ward brings proven power to Baltimore’s lineup, having hit 61 home runs over the past two seasons. Whether he remains an Oriole beyond this year — and whether the trade ultimately pays off — remains uncertain.
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