The Baltimore Orioles weren't the first team to make a key free agent signing this offseason, but they have made two of the more interesting trades so far.
Earlier in the offseason, the Orioles traded for Andrew Kittredge from the Chicago Cubs. Their next trade was a bigger one, as they linked up with the Los Angeles Angels for a fascinating player-for-player swap.
According to ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan, the Orioles are trading former top pitching prospect Grayson Rodriguez to the Angels for power-hitting outfielder Taylor Ward.
Orioles trade oft-injured former top prospect to Angels for Taylor Ward
"Trade news: Taylor Ward is going to Baltimore, and Grayson Rodriguez to the Los Angeles Angels." Passan reports. "The Orioles get the power-hitting outfielder they've been seeking, and the Angels get back a young arm. Quite a trade."
This is a very fascinating trade for both teams, but especially from the Orioles' perspective. Rodriguez isn't a small piece to give up.
The 26-year-old pitcher was a former top prospect for multiple years in the Orioles farm system, but after making his MLB debut in 2023, he's struggled to stay on the mound.
He last pitched in July of 2024 and has since not been able to get back on the mound due to an elbow issue. Rodriguez's last season for the Orioles was in 2024, and he had a 3.86 ERA through 20 starts for Baltimore.
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Rodriguez is under team control through the 2029 season, while Ward, coming back in this one-for-one trade, is a free agent after 2026.
Ward is going to be 32 years old on opening day and heading into a contract year. He's a power-hitting outfielder, which the Orioles needed, but he comes at a steep price of Rodriguez.
Ward is coming off a very strong 2025 season for the Angels, where he hit.228 with 36 home runs, 103 RBIs, and a.792 OPS in one of his best hitting seasons of his career.
It's a fascinating trade for the Orioles. They part ways with a former top pitching prospect with four years of control for a veteran outfielder in the final year of arbitration, set to make around $13 million.
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