Taylor Ward’s bat has gone from a major Orioles bright spot to a real concern, and the timing couldn’t be worse.
When Baltimore acquired Ward in the bold deal that sent Grayson Rodriguez to the Angels for one year of Ward, the move looked like a clear win almost immediately. By April 30, Ward was hitting .304/.438/.441, drawing walks and doubles at a rate that put him near the top of the league. At that point, he looked like exactly the kind of hitter contenders would want to chase once the trade deadline arrived.
That picture has changed fast.
Ward’s power has fallen off sharply from the 36 home runs he hit last season, and he is now on pace to finish with fewer than 10 this year. That kind of drop would be easier to live with if the on-base skills had stayed elite, but they haven’t. His OBP has slid from .438 at the end of April to .378 now.
Since May 1, Ward has posted a .262/.343/.365 slash line, good for a .708 OPS. Those numbers aren’t a disaster, but they don’t carry much weight for a player whose defense in left is below average and who doesn’t offer much on the bases.
For Ward to be a real plus, either for the Orioles’ lineup or as a trade piece, he needs to be clearly better than this at the plate. Right now, he isn’t.
That dip is showing up in the market, too. ESPN’s trade chip rankings had Ward 12th in the first edition, where he was viewed as one of the best bats available. In the latest update, he has fallen to 24th.
That kind of slide matters. A player seen as a premium rental bat can bring back a very different return than one who is simply expected to be moved because his team doesn’t plan to re-sign him or give him the qualifying offer. Ward’s value is still tied to what another club is willing to pay, but the trend is not helping Baltimore.
For the Orioles, the next few weeks are simple: they need Ward to catch fire. If he does it and helps them climb back into the playoff race, that solves one problem. If he does it and the season stays on the wrong track, it at least gives Baltimore a stronger trade chip to work with.
In Other News...
Contender Now Linked To One Orioles Bat Fans Feared Losing
The trade deadline is starting to draw some familiar names into the rumor mill, and for Orioles fans, one of the more uncomfortable ones is a bat they have grown attached to. CBS Sports Mike Axisa recently pegged Taylor Ward as a possible fit for a Phillies club that has improved under Don Mattingly and looks like a buyer, with the appeal tied to his on-base ability and right-handed swing even as his home run total has dipped.
For Baltimore, the intrigue is less about Philadelphias needs than what Ward represents if the market keeps warming up. He is viewed as the kind of rental a contender can chase before he reaches free agency after the season, which is exactly the sort of profile that tends to stir deadline noise around a player who has become part of the Orioles everyday picture. The question now is how aggressive that pursuit gets, and whether Baltimore is forced to weigh short-term value against the kind of return that could make moving him easier to stomach. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Bullpen Concerns Just Grew As Another Lineup Shuffle Looms
The Orioles bullpen picture took another hit with Keegan Akin now seeking a second opinion on his left elbow, while Colin Selby remains on the 60-day injured list and Ryan Helsley is still working through treatment on his right elbow. For a club already trying to patch together innings, the latest medical updates only add to the pressure on a relief group that has been asked to absorb a lot this season.
At the same time, Baltimore is trying to manage the rest of the roster with an eye on a Cubs matchup that brings a left-handed starter into the mix. The lineup card reflects that balancing act, with the Orioles turning to several younger bats and moving pieces around as they look for the right combination, even as the bullpen uncertainty keeps hanging over the day. [Read more 🡒]