Newly acquired outfielder Taylor Ward did not shy away from talking about the offseason moves the Baltimore Orioles have made thus far.
Ward, who was traded to the Orioles from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez this offseason, spoke on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM on Thursday and praised the offseason moves president of baseball operations Mike Elias has made.
"The more Mike [Elias] has been doing, I just think it's incredible, and yeah, just adding piece after piece, hopefully we're not done, but as of right now, I'm really excited to get down there," Ward said.
The 32-year-old outfielder was also excited to talk about the addition of Pete Alonso, whom the Orioles signed on the last day of the Winter Meetings last week to a five-year, $155 million deal.
"Excited," Ward said bluntly. "Such a great hitter. Obviously, him being in the National League, don't play him as much, but more often the last two years. One of the guys I came up with, we may have played in the Fall League together just right around that time, so I know of him obviously, just the power that be brings to the table, it's going to be great for this lineup."
Elias has been very active this offseason in trying to build a contender in Baltimore after they missed the playoffs last season for the first time since 2022 back-to-back trips to the postseason. While the addition of Alonso was by far the biggest the O's have made to this point, Ward's addition will also provide much more pop to their already talented lineup.
In 157 games for the Angels last year, Ward batted.228 with a career-high 36 home runs and 103 RBI (which led the Angels). He's expected to be their left fielder next season.
Ward and Alonso, who have hit a combined 377 home runs since making their major league debuts, seem poised to make an immediate impact on the Orioles' lineup to help compete in the ultra-competitive AL East.