The Los Angeles Angels traded away outfielder Taylor Ward to the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night, the team announced. In return, the Halos are acquiring right-handed pitcher Grayson Rodriguez.

Ward had one of his best years in Anaheim last season, going long a career-high 36 times while leading the team in RBIs with 103. Recording a .792 OPS, Ward enjoyed his fourth season in five years with an OPS over .750. Now 31 with just one year before hitting free agency, the Angels decided to cash in on Ward’s impressive season.

After being drafted by the Angels in the first round of the 2015 MLB Draft out of Fresno State University, Ward has spent over a decade with the organization. He’ll now join an Orioles team that reached the postseason in 2023 and 2024. Ward’s bat will aid Baltimore as they look to reach the postseason once again.

Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) on X OFFICIAL: The Angels have acquired RHP Grayson Rodriguez from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for OF Taylor Ward.

The Angels are getting a promising young pitcher in Rodriguez in exchange for Ward’s bat. With Rodriguez just two seasons into his career, the Angels have acquired four years of team control of the flamethrower.

Rodriguez missed all of the 2025 season due to bone spurs in his throwing elbow, but is expected to be back on the mound next season, this time in an Angels uniform. The 26-year-old first debuted in 2023 for the Orioles, starting 43 games so far in his young career. In those games, he's recorded an ERA of 4.11.

The 6’5”, 230-pound pitcher is known to throw the ball as hard as any in the league, but his real damage comes in his offspeed pitches. In 2024, Rodriguez held batters to a .161 average on his changeup, his second-highest usage pitch. He’s also shown some effectiveness with his curveball, holding batters to just a .171 average against the pitch in his rookie year. Its effectiveness went down in 2024 after increased usage, but he’s already proven how deadly it could be.

Such a trade has been rumored for some time now, with reports saying the Angels were open to trading Ward and fellow outfielder Jo Adell. Of the two, the Angels seemingly decided to keep Adell, for now at least. With a new key starter in the rotation, the Angels have checked one of the many bullet points off the team’s checklist this offseason.