Angels bolster rotation, snagging a potential ace in a surprising swap. This move signals a promising rebuild for the struggling club.
The Los Angeles Angels had been rumored to move on from outfielder Taylor Ward for some time. His name circulated at the deadline, but he didn't get moved.
Now, with free agency kicking off, the Angels made the decision to move him. They sent him to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for pitcher Grayson Rodriguez in a straight swap.
It's a big boost for the Angels rotation, and a trade that is viewed highly by many in the industry.
Steve Gardner of USA Today gave the Angels a B+ for the trade, and here's why.
"The Angels are clearly in the rebuilding process after finishing last in the AL West with a record of 72-90. And there are plenty of holes on the roster. Rodriguez could fill one of the most important ones — staff ace — if he can stay healthy. Plus, at age 26, he still has four more years of team control and won't be eligible for free agency until after the 2029 season," Gardner wrote.
Plus, Gardner likes that the Angels used Ward's strong season to earn a boost for the future.
"With Ward in his final season before free agency and due around $13.7 million in arbitration, the Angels turned his career year into a lottery ticket that could pay major dividends well into the future. Trading Ward also allows the Angels to deal from a position of strength and address an area of need."
Rodriguez also isn't viewed as a back-end starter, but Gardner envisions him as one of the top two options in the Angels rotation going forward.
"They finished fourth in the majors in 2025 with 226 home runs. Only the Yankees, Dodgers and Mariners had more. Meanwhile, their 4.89 team ERA was the worst in the American League and third-worst overall behind the Rockies and Nationals... The Orioles said they expected Rodriguez to be ready for the start of spring training. If that's the case, he'll likely slot in as either the Angels' No. 1 or No. 2 starter to begin the regular season under first-year manager Kurt Suzuki," he added.
Gardner didn't view the Orioles return in the same regard as he gave them a C grade, and moving a young, cost-controlled pitcher for a player that is older is still a bit of a surprise from Baltimore.
Nonetheless, the Angels kicked off the free agency period with a big move, and this should give the fans some hope moving forward.