The Los Angeles Angels and Baltimore Orioles swung a trade late on Tuesday, Nov. 18, exchanging a pair of former first round picks.
Baltimore is acquiring Taylor Ward from the Angels in exchange for pitcher Grayson Rodriguez, the teams announced.
Ward, 31, appeared in a career-high 157 games this past season and launched a career-high 36 home runs. The outfielder posted a .228/.317/.475 slash line. He was drafted by the Angels in the first round of the 2015 draft and made his debut with the team in 2018.
Rodriguez, 26, was the 11th overall pick in the 2018 draft. He’s been solid when healthy but has struggled with injuries. He has not appeared in an MLB game since July 31, 2024.
Rodriguez posted a 4.11 ERA in 43 starts with the Orioles over two seasons (2023 and 2024). He has 259 strikeouts in 238.2 innings and has gone 20-8.
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