Will Angels continue to regret trading Taylor Ward for Grayson Rodriguez?

The Baltimore Orioles needed a veteran right-handed hitter to balance their left-heavy batting order. Weary of pitcher Grayson Rodriguez's injury problems, the Orioles made the former top prospect available.

The Los Angeles Angels hurriedly helped engineer a one-for-one player deal on Nov. 18, 2025. Angels officials agreed to the acquisition without authorizing team doctors to perform a pre-trade physical exam. 

Rodriguez developed shoulder inflammation during spring training and opened the season on the injured list.

Talk about a regrettable offseason move.

Do Angels regret trading Taylor Ward for Grayson Rodriguez?

The Orioles needed a lift during Sunday's doubleheader opener against the Detroit Tigers at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Trailing 2-1 in the eighth inning, Ward followed a Jackson Holliday lead-off double with a one-out, RBI single to center field, cutting into their two-run deficit. 

Ward's spark helped the Orioles rally to beat the Tigers, 5-3, on Colton Cowser's walk-off home run. While his power numbers are down significantly, Ward, who has two homers this season after connecting on 36 in 2025, remains an everyday contributor. He delivered a key hit during Sunday's 9-7 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Ward will be a free agent at the end of this season, while Rodriguez remains under team control through 2029. 

It appears he needs more time.

After coming off IL, Rodriguez appeared in two games, surrendering 11 earned runs in 9.1 innings. The Los Angeles Dodgers dinged Rodriguez for seven runs in 3.2 innings during his debut May 17.

Ward's replacement, Josh Lowe, struggled offensively, hitting .184 in 45 games, and was demoted. In his first three at-bats with Triple-A Salt Lake, Lowe collected two hits and an RBI.

Will the Angels' regret over trading Ward for Rodriguez continue to grow?

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