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2 hours ago
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The Tampa Bay Rays have a clear need for the trade deadline.
Adding power to the lineup should and will be a priority. The Rays rank dead last in the Majors with 63 home runs.
Star third baseman Junior Caminero leads the way with 16. Jonathan Aranda and Yandy Diaz both have 12.
Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer predicts that a nine-year veteran outfielder with five homers would be a good fit in Tampa Bay.
"The fit here is simple. The Rays need any kind of impact hitter, and there's no better place for one than in an outfield that has a .653 OPS," Rymer wrote. "And since said outfield skews left-handed, [Taylor] Ward as a fit is too obvious."
Ward was acquired by the Baltimore Orioles from the Los Angeles Angels this past offseason.
He had one of the best seasons of his career in 2025, hitting a personal best 36 home runs with a .792 OPS.
Ward's slugging numbers are down, but he's managed to connect for 17 doubles and draw walks in 17.4% of his trips to the plate.
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"The Orioles could look to extract an arm or two from a Rays system that has plenty of good ones," Rymer added. "Second-ranked prospect Brody Hopkins could perhaps be in play amid a rough year, with someone like T.J. Nichols (No. 10) perhaps representing a more likely play."
Even if the Rays traded for Ward, they still might need more offensive additions. But it's a solid starting point.
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