Yesterday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com (X hyperlink) reported that the Angels appeared to be near buying and selling an outfielder. Nothing has come collectively but but it surely’s doable that talks are nonetheless ongoing. It wasn’t specified which outfielder they have been about to commerce however Feinsand instructed that Taylor Ward would make sense since there have been rumors of different golf equipment being involved in him. Nonetheless, Ward’s agent Joel Wolfe instructed Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register (X hyperlink) that he hadn’t heard something about commerce talks involving his shopper. That doesn’t essentially imply that there aren’t discussions taking place however members of the Atlanta beat like David O’Brien of The Athletic (X hyperlink) and Mark Bowman of MLB.com (X hyperlink) each report that, if there’s an imminent Ward commerce, it received’t be to Atlanta.
Ward has appeared like a logical commerce candidate for some time now. Because the Angels have struggled to compete in recent times, there was pure hypothesis concerning the veteran gamers on the roster with shrinking home windows of membership management. Ward will likely be celebrating his thirty first birthday this Saturday and will be retained through arbitration for 2 extra seasons.
If the Angels have been pivoting in direction of a kind of reset, it might make sense to commerce Ward for youthful and extra controllable gamers. Nonetheless, regardless of simply dropping 99 video games in the latest season, the Halos are clearly making an attempt to contend in 2025. Each proprietor Arte Moreno and basic supervisor Perry Minasian made it clear that was the plan for this winter and so they have backed that up, buying Yusei Kikuchi, Jorge Soler, Travis d’Arnaud, Kyle Hendricks and others already.
In that context, buying and selling Ward turns into a bit harder to see. The outfield is already a reasonably skinny a part of the roster, consisting of Ward, Mike Trout, Jo Adell, Mickey Moniak and maybe Soler. Trout has grow to be more and more harm susceptible in recent times, having not performed 120 video games in a season since 2019. Soler is a poor defender and greatest suited to be the designated hitter most of the time. Adell and Moniak nonetheless have poor offensive observe information total.
Subtracting Ward from that group would make it even flimsier however golf equipment will surely have an interest if he have been accessible. He has hit .259/.338/.440 over the previous 4 years for a wRC+ of 118, indicating he’s been 18% higher than the league common hitter in that point. His protection has additionally been graded round league common or above, permitting him to play at a tempo of about two to 4 wins above substitute per yr, based on FanGraphs.
MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz initiatives Ward for a $9.2MM wage in 2025, a notable sum however nonetheless a cut price for a participant like Ward. Free agent nook outfielders like Anthony Santander and Teoscar Hernández are more likely to command multi-year contracts with common annual values double that. Ward could be in line for a elevate in 2026, his ultimate season earlier than free company, however that determine would nonetheless be an excellent deal if he continues to provide at his regular charges.
A commerce coming collectively would naturally depend upon what different golf equipment are keen to supply. Maybe the Angels get supplied some large league pitching or infield assist that they really feel is price taking, however they’d then should pivot to changing Ward within the outfield combine. The Pirates and Royals have been each related to Ward on the commerce deadline with Kansas Metropolis reportedly nonetheless involved in him as of final month, although the Angels haven’t let go of him but.
Some followers would possibly hear concerning the Angels probably buying and selling an outfielder and leap to Trout but it surely’s arduous to think about a commerce like that popping out of the blue. He has a full no-trade clause and has repeatedly stated that he desires to remain and win with the Angels. It’s doable that he alters his thoughts in some unspecified time in the future however there’s hasn’t been any public suggestion that has occurred.
His contract can be arduous to maneuver from a monetary perspective. Trout is paid at famous person charges however hasn’t been in a position to present that manufacturing shortly. He’s all the time good when he’s on the sector however hasn’t been on the market sufficient to accrue counting stats at his earlier ranges. He’s set to make $35.45MM yearly for one more six seasons. Even for a marquee title like Trout, that’s some huge cash for a man who’s now 33 years previous with mounting harm issues.
Even when Trout needed to be traded, it might be a difficult spot for the Halos since they’d probably should accept a middling return on a franchise participant or eat cash simply to get a notable package deal, which isn’t an ideal P.R. place both approach.
It’s additionally doable Moniak or Adell are those being mentioned, although neither would have large worth proper now. Moniak has stepped to the plate 908 instances within the majors so far with a .230/.272/.402 batting line and 32.3% strikeout charge. Adell has hit .211/.268/.381 in his profession with a 32.2% strikeout charge.
It’s doable to see some enchancment from Adell in 2024, as he popped 24 dwelling runs whereas reducing his strikeout charge to 27.9%. His total manufacturing was nonetheless subpar however his .244 batting common on balls in play was properly under league common. It’s doable he took a significant step ahead this previous yr and can escape with higher luck in 2025 however he’s floundered so many instances that groups is perhaps reluctant to wager on that.
