The Angels are coming off the worst season in franchise historical past. They misplaced 99 video games for the primary time. Solely the White Sox, Rockies and Marlins had a worse run differential. The Angels are enjoying like a rebuilding workforce, even when they haven’t gotten right here deliberately.
Halos brass continues to withstand the rebuilding label. Proprietor Arte Moreno stated two weeks in the past that he plans to approve a payroll enhance and expects the workforce to compete for a playoff spot. Normal supervisor Perry Minasian expressed comparable sentiments at his end-of-season press convention. The Angels aren’t about to tear the roster to the studs. On the similar time, they will’t run issues again whereas solely tinkering with the bullpen (as they did final offseason) and anticipate markedly higher outcomes.
Whether or not they embrace a short-term reset or look to stability the MLB roster with out dealing from one of many league’s worst farm programs, there’s a case for transferring Taylor Ward. The 30-year-old left fielder has been the topic of commerce hypothesis courting again to final offseason. The Pirates and Royals reportedly checked in at the newest deadline. Nothing got here collectively. Pittsburgh ended up buying Bryan De La Cruz from the Marlins as a substitute. The Royals didn’t deal with their outfield on the deadline however claimed Tommy Pham and Robbie Grossman off waivers a number of weeks later.
Buying and selling Ward over the summer time would have been promoting a bit low.  After a robust first couple months, he had a dismal stretch between June and July. From June 1 to the beginning of play on deadline day, Ward hit .175/.280/.313 whereas putting out at a 28% clip. He had a .227/.309/.401 season line at that time. He wasn’t trending effectively as a lineup increase for a contender.
Ward hit a lot better as soon as the deadline handed. From July 30 on, he turned in a stout .282/.348/.471 slash over 230 plate appearances. He reduce his strikeouts to a extra manageable 23.9% clip and drilled 9 residence runs. Ward concluded the season with 25 longballs and a .246/.323/.426 displaying that’s about consistent with his profession trajectory. He’s a barely above-average hitter who performs roughly league common protection in left area. He has crushed left-handed pitching (.315/.374/.509) over the previous two seasons whereas placing up league common numbers (.229/.314/.399) with out the platoon benefit. It’s not a star profile, however that’s a beneficial common.
The Halos management Ward for one more two seasons. He certified for early arbitration in 2023 as a Tremendous Two participant, so he’s already in line for a notable wage. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz tasks him for a $9.2MM sum subsequent season, the best within the Halos’ arbitration class. He’ll most likely be in line for round $12-14MM in his ultimate yr of membership management.
Ward isn’t too dissimilar from Lane Thomas, whom the Nationals traded to the Guardians at this yr’s deadline. Thomas was a bit of extra reasonably priced, enjoying on a $5.45MM deal in his penultimate arbitration yr. The midseason commerce meant Cleveland was selecting up a yr and a half of his companies reasonably than two full seasons. Washington landed a trio of prospects, headlined by latest second-round decide Alex Clemmey and higher minors utility infielder José Tena. That’s a basic comparability level for what the Angels might search for Ward in the event that they had been prepared to maneuver him for prospects.
Based mostly on Moreno’s and Minasian’s feedback, which may not be a consideration. The Angels haven’t merely stated they imagine they will compete in 2025. Their deadline exercise backed that up. Los Angeles didn’t commerce anybody who was not an impending free agent regardless of fielding curiosity in gamers like Ward, Luis Rengifo and Tyler Anderson.
Even when the Halos don’t need to make a commerce with a agency eye to the longer term, they might look to deal Ward to internet massive league pitching. The Angels have one of many worst rotations in MLB. They’ve tended to draw back from important free agent investments in pitchers, an organizational choice that appears to stem from possession because it crosses a number of entrance workplaces. Buying and selling prospects for rotation assist solely continues the pattern of short-sighted strikes that acquired them on this place.
There aren’t many gamers they’ll most likely be prepared to maneuver off the MLB roster. They’re not going to commerce Logan O’Hoppe or Zach Neto. Rengifo’s worth dropped when he underwent season-ending wrist surgical procedure in August. Anderson had a poor second half and has minimal enchantment on a $13MM wage. Buying and selling him for a modest return subtracts one in all their few secure sources of innings.
The Angels aren’t precisely overflowing with outfield expertise both, however left area is a relatively simpler place to deal with. That might come internally. Mike Trout has already stated he might transfer off middle area in an effort to remain wholesome. His arm most likely matches higher in left than in proper. Even when they transfer Trout to proper (or kick Ward to that nook so Trout can deal with left area), that would block one of many easiest paths to including some punch to the lineup. This can be a respectable class free of charge agent nook outfielders, with gamers like Anthony Santander, Teoscar Hernández, Tyler O’Neill and Michael Conforto accessible. Buying and selling Ward for a starter would clear a path for a free agent pursuit from somebody in that group.
Pittsburgh and Kansas Metropolis might renew their curiosity. The Bucs acquired little or no out of De La Cruz, whereas Grossman and Pham are free brokers. Â The Reds, Phillies, Braves, Blue Jays and Padres are different groups that would search for nook outfield assist this winter.
Picture courtesy of USA In the present day Sports activities.
