JUST IN: Pirates, Angels Reportedly Discussing Taylor Ward Trade
The Pirates and Angels are in chats on an exchange that would send outfielder Taylor Ward from Anaheim to Pittsburgh, reports Paul Zeise of the Pittsburgh Post-Periodical and 93.7 FM The Fan. While an arrangement isn’t yet finished, Zeise adds that Pittsburgh is effectively attempting to get the arrangement across the end goal.
Adding to the outfield is a reasonable pursuit for a Pirates club that is in the NL Special case blend however has gotten unfortunate creation from its outfield blend. While Bryan Reynolds is having perhaps of his best season (.280/.344/.486, 17 homers, 131 wRC+), the remainder of the gathering has been deficient. Indeed, even with that champion creation from the group’s star outfielder, Privateers outfielders have consolidated for a .225/.297/.357 batting line generally speaking. The subsequent 84 wRC+ demonstrates that Pittsburgh outfielders have been 16% more regrettable than normal at the plate. Every one of Jack Suwinski (.187/.269/.349), Michael A. Taylor (.202/.259/.274) and Edward Olivares (.216/.285/.324) have battled powerfully in the outfield. Connor Joe has generally association normal numbers overall yet hasn’t hit well when entrusted with watching the outfield (.205/.292/.270 on those days).
Ward, 30, would give the Bucs a consistent bat to plug into a corner spot, with Reynolds monitoring the other. The 2024 mission hasn’t been Ward’s ideal, yet he’s hitting .238/.321/.417 (107 wRC+) with 14 homers on the year. Furthermore, tracing all the way back to a 2021 breakout, the previous first-round pick conveys a .259/.340/.441 slice with quality guarded marks, especially in left field. Ward’s sub optimal speed restricts his reach, yet he has areas of strength for an exact arm that is assisted him with being a strong protective patron.
For a perpetually cost-cognizant club like Pittsburgh, Ward seems OK. He’s being paid a sensible $4.8MM in 2024 and is controllable for two extra seasons past the flow crusade. He’ll procure a couple of raises in mediation for 2025 and 2026, however his sticker price isn’t probably going to inflatable to illogical levels, even by the Privateers’ norms. Those additional two times of control make him an especially engaging objective for a club that doesn’t have a highest level outfield prospect thumping down the entryway right now however is overflowing with youthful pitching ability that seems to be the establishment for a cutthroat center.
The Angels are supposedly hesitant to exchange their players who are controlled past the ebb and flow season, however it’s consistently conceivable that position is unquestionably somewhat posing. It’s additionally achievable that the Privateers feel Ward checks an adequate number of boxes for them that they’re willing to cause a proposition the Heavenly messengers don’t to feel they can miss, regardless of whether their overall inclination is to bargain from their load of rental players as it were. That talks are apparently significant even with three weeks to go until the cutoff time would propose that Pittsburgh is basically ready to examine the chance of leaving behind a few convincing names.
