Pirates and Angels reportedly discussing Taylor Ward transfer

The Pirates and Angels are currently negotiating a transfer in which the outfielder Taylor Ward from Anaheim to Pittsburgh, reports Paul Zeise of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and 93.7 FM The Fan. Although no deal has been finalized yet, Zeise adds that Pittsburgh is actively trying to get the deal across the finish line.

Strengthening the outfield is a sensible endeavor for a Pirates club that is in the NL Wild Card mix but has had poor results from its outfield mix. While Bryan Reynolds has one of his best seasons (.280/.344/.486, 17 home runs, 131 wRC+), the rest of the group has been lacking. Despite this outstanding performance from the team’s star outfielder, the Pirates’ outfielders have posted a total batting line of .225/.297/.357. The resulting 84 wRC+ shows that Pittsburgh’s outfielders have been 16% worse at the plate than average. Each of the Jack Suwinski (.187/.269/.349), Michael A. Taylor (.202/.259/.274) and Edward Olivares (.216/.285/.324) had great difficulty in the outfield. Joey, Joey and Connor has about average numbers for the league overall, but hasn’t hit well when tasked with guarding the outfield (.205/.292/.270 on those days).

Ward, 30, would give the Bucs a reliable hitter for a corner position while Reynolds mans the other position. The 2024 season wasn’t Ward’s best, but he’s hitting .238/.321/.417 (107 wRC+) with 14 home runs this year. And since breaking out in 2021, the former first-round pick has a slash line of .259/.340/.441 with good defensive numbers, especially in left field. Ward’s below-average speed limits his range, but he has a strong and accurate arm that has helped him be a solid defensive player.

For an ever-cost-conscious club like Pittsburgh, Ward makes especially good sense. He’ll make a reasonable $4.8 million in 2024 and is controllable for two more seasons beyond the current one. He’ll get two raises in arbitration for 2025 and 2026, but his price tag probably won’t rise to an untenable level, even by the Pirates’ standards. Those extra two seasons of control make him a particularly attractive target for a club that doesn’t have a top outfield prospect right now, but is teeming with young pitching talent that looks like the foundation for a competitive core.

The Angels are reportedly unwilling to trade any of their players under contract beyond the current season, though it’s always possible that this stance is at least partially fake. It’s also possible that the Pirates feel Ward meets enough criteria that they’re willing to make an offer the Angels can’t refuse, even if they generally prefer to trade only from their inventory of rental players. That the talks are substantive even three weeks before the deadline suggests that Pittsburgh is at least willing to discuss the possibility of parting ways with some compelling names.