The Pirates and Angels are in talks about a trade that could send the outfielder Taylor Ward from Anaheim to Pittsburgh, reports Paul Zeise of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and 93.7 FM The Fan. Although the deal is not yet finalized, Zeise added that Pittsburgh is actively trying to get the deal to the finish line.
The addition of outfielders is a logical pursuit for a Pirates team that is hunting for the NL Wild Card but has found its game lacking. While Bryan Reynolds having one of his best seasons (.280/.344/.486, 17 homers, 131 wRC+), the rest of the team was lacking. Even with that dominant production from Reynolds, the outfield combined for a .225/.297/.357 batting line overall. An 84 wRC+ score indicates that Pittsburgh's outfielders were 16% worse than average at the plate. Each of the Jack Suwinski (.187/.269/.349), Michael A. Taylor (.202/.259/.274) and Edward Olivares (.216/.285/.324) struggled more in the outfield. Connor Joe had league-average numbers overall but didn't hit well when assigned to guard the field (.205/.292/.270 in those days).
Ward, 30, will give the Bucs a consistent bat at cornerback, with Reynolds holding the other. The 2024 campaign hasn't been Ward's best, but he's hitting .238/.321/.417 (107 wRC+) with 14 homers on the year. And since the start of 2021, the former first-round pick owns a .259/.340/.441 slash with quality defensive marks, especially in left field. Ward's below-average speed limits his range, but he has a strong and accurate arm that has helped him become a solid defensive contributor.
For a club as cost-conscious as Pittsburgh, Ward makes more sense. He is paid $4.8MM in 2024 and is controllable for two more seasons beyond the current campaign. He'll get two raises in the 2025 and 2026 deals, but his price tag won't be prohibitive, even by Pirates standards. Those two more seasons of control make him very attractive to a team that doesn't have a top outfield prospect knocking down the door yet but is loaded with pitching talent that looks like a contender.
The Angels are reportedly reluctant to trade their restricted players beyond the current season, though it's always possible that the deal will be at least temporary. It's also possible that the Pirates feel that Ward checks enough boxes for them that they're willing to give the Angels the feeling that they won't give up, even if they're only willing to trade for rental players. That the talks are so intense even with three weeks to go until the deadline would suggest Pittsburgh is willing to at least discuss parting with some compelling words.
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