The Angels still haven’t picked a firm lane with the trade deadline just over 48 hours away, but they’re getting “significant” interest in outfielders Jo Adell and Taylor Ward, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Both outfielders are controlled beyond the current season, meaning the Angels would seek a notable return even if they do opt to trade either slugger.
Adell, 26, was the No. 10 overall pick in the 2017 draft. He’s never fully delivered on his longtime top prospect status but is in the midst of a career-best season at the plate, hitting .233/.303/.463 with 21 homers and 14 doubles. He’s in the midst of a roughly weeklong slump but has generally swung the bat well following a rough first month or so. Since May 6, he’s taken 275 plate appearances and turned in a more robust .254/.332/.539 batting line with 19 of his 21 home runs coming in that time. In that stretch of nearly three months, Adell has been 37% better than average at the plate, by measure of wRC+.
The Angels control Adell for another two seasons beyond the current year. He’s earning $2.1MM in his first season of arbitration eligibility, making him highly affordable for any club looking to add some right-handed thump to its outfield mix. He has very similar batting average and on-base percentage marks against righties and lefties alike, but Adell has shown far more power against southpaws. Speculatively speaking, teams like the Reds, Padres and Giants all make varying degrees of sense. The Reds badly need help against lefties and have outfield reps available. The Giants are in a similar boat. The Padres have limited financial resources at their disposal and have gotten no production from left field this season.
Adell has spent the bulk of his time in center field this year, but he’s miscast in that role. The Halos have moved Mike Trout to a right field/designated hitter timeshare alongside Jorge Soler and have Ward entrenched in left, so Adell has given his best effort to hold things down in center. It hasn’t been pretty. Statcast pegs him at six outs below average, while Defensive Runs Saved has graded him even more harshly (-10). In nearly 1500 right field innings across the past four-plus seasons, Statcast grades Adell as a scratch defender, while DRS credits him as a strong defender (+9).
As for the 31-year-old Ward, he’s the more established and more expensive option of the two. He’s controlled one less year, through the end of the 2026 season, and is earning $7.825MM in 2025. Another former first-rounder (No. 25 in 2015), Ward has been a steadily productive corner outfield bat since his 2022 breakout. He’s batting .232/.308/.491 on the season (117 wRC+) but, like Adell, has really turned things on after a sluggish start. Ward hit just .172/.215/.352 through his first 130 plate appearances. His turnaround coincides almost perfectly with that of Adell. In Ward’s past 324 plate appearances (dating back to May 4), he’s broken out with a .258/.346/.552 batting line (144 wRC+).
Ward played plenty of right field earlier in his big league tenure but has been locked in as the Halos’ primary left fielder since 2023. Both DRS and Statcast feel he’s been at least average with the glove each year since ’23, though Statcast grades him a bit more favorably on the whole (combined 9 OAA in that time).
It bears emphasizing that neither Adell nor Ward is a lock to be traded. The Angels are buried by eight games in the AL West but sit a more manageable 4.5 games back in the AL Wild Card hunt — albeit with four teams to leapfrog if they hope to secure a spot. Angels owner Arte Moreno is generally loath to sell — particularly when it comes to players who are controlled for multiple seasons, as both Adell and Ward are.
That said, the Angels are perilously thin on pitching talent and could look at a rotating carousel of four outfielders who are best-suited for corner/DH work (Ward, Adell, Trout, Soler) and opportunistically look to flip Ward or Adell for a younger arm (or arms). Moving Adell would create a gap in center field, but as already outlined, he’s not a strong option there anyhow. The Angels could deal Ward or Taylor for pitching and/or prospects, play the other in left, and still look to backfill center field with a trade for someone like Luis Robert Jr., Harrison Bader or Cedric Mullins (to name just a few options).
The Angels haven’t reached the postseason since 2014 — the longest active drought in the sport. It’s understandable if that gives Moreno and general manager Perry Minasian some extra incentive to make a push for October, even with FanGraphs and Baseball Prospectus both placing their playoff odds at under five percent. Moving Adell or Ward doesn’t necessarily need to equate to waving the proverbial white flag on 2025, however. Given the glut of corner options, lack of pitching depth and lack of a true center fielder, there’s a compelling argument that they should deal one of the two even if they’re striving to remain competitive. Angels outfielders rank 29th in the majors in DRS and 27th in OAA, so shuffling up the outfield mix and using some of their corner depth to address the pitching depth could leave them in a better spot when all is said and done.
A Jo Adell trade article!!!!
Articles from the past! lol
Maybe we can resurrect Trout trade scenarios next.
Could the long prophesied trade of Jo Adell finally come to pass?
What a momentous time to be alive!
I thought it was another “Padres lack financial resources” misinformation article?
It so unserious the Angels are 0% trading Adell. They have no OF in the system, his secondary numbers actually support him underperforming currently and hes emerged as a leader on the team. ENOUGH.
The Angels have zero players anywhere, not just the outfield.
They’re all young payroll guys accelerated to the majors. Having a Rendon branded vacuum that sucks the payroll dry every year will do that.
I can’t believe we’re still talking about Jo Adell like he’s worth something. When( IF) He ever does something then maybe bring him up again. His agent write this?
Are you getting your box scores via pony express? Adell is crushing this year.
Adell is worth something. He has a .838 OPS since the end of April, and nominally plays CF. With two years left, someone will want him.
@bkbk It is that time of the season where you hear crazy nonsense. I don’t believe they will trade Adell. I can see them trading Ward. That’s not to say, Adell is better than Ward, it is just Adell has an extra year of control.
@googleme. It makes more sense to trade ward and sign a centerfielder. Adell can play center with soler in right on off rest days. After that trade rengifo, moancada, and Anderson for whatever.
@Rex Eventually, I believe the Angels see Rada as the CF.. He can at least get on base and is capable defensively. They can move Adell to a corner spot, where he should be.
The Angels should have taken Devin Taylor, who was available at #47. He had one of the hit tool and power tool combinations in the entire draft.
They instead chose a Chase Shores that has a power arm. He is 6ft 8. Like most young tall pitchers, he is unable to repeat mechanics and throw strikes consistently.
No way will they trade Adell now that things are clicking for him and they still have a couple years of control
I wonder how they feel about chase petty
While the article mentions pitching needs, 21 of their top 30 prospects are pitchers, but they lack any sort of impact positional prospects in the upper minors.
Sal Stewart and Hector Rodriguez are Reds prospects likely to be of more immediate use than Petty, given the win-now mandate from ownership.
Angels won’t get either of those guys for Adell or Ward
Perhaps not, but not because they don’t offer commensurate value.
Current valuations on Baseball Trade Values:
Adell: 18.2
Stewart: 12
Ward: 10.1
Rodriguez: 7.2
Trade anyone that can help our team in 2027. We are not close to having a good team today.
Of course as long as the M and M boys are in charge, we have no chance in the foreseeable future.
The one team that I would love watching Devries play for, outside of the Padres.
Love the Halos! Any trade between my Padres and my Angels is a win-win.
Love to see Ward in a Pads uni patrolling lf.
Right handed, power bat left-fielder. Checks all the boxes the Pads need.
From the Halos, standpoint, name your price.
Pads and Halos really match up well in a trade!
DeVries isn’t going anywhere you jack. Period.
Especially not for Adell or Ward, when either could be had for a couple of low-mid level prospects.
Yeah but an absolutely fair trade (fairest of all time) would be trout for de vries
Who says no????????
Trout says no
The padres say no, then trout, then the angels. It’s hard to make trade proposals where every trade and player says no but yet you did it.
Hmmm, mid-level prospects for a 25 HR and a 21 HR guy? Good thing you are not the Angels GM.
If you think Ward or Adell are worth much more than a couple of low to mid level prospects, you’re in for an eye opening next couple of days.
Ron Darling should never be on TV! He blows!
Tow, are you suggesting trading De Vries for Jo Adell???
No, but just saying, if a package involving say Trout came up, maybe.
This is all just a wild idea, but the beauty of this time of year, are that some wild ideas become reality.
Not saying even Trout at this stage is worth DeVries.
But what would a Trout to the Padres deal look like?
Say a Trout and Ward deal?
Trout slides in as a DH and Ward lf.
It would look like the padres asking how much trout makes and then hanging up the phone. I know you fans aren’t very good with money and you don’t even have to believe the media. But the teams moves have given you every indication that they aren’t taking on huge sums of salary and yet you delusional people choose to waste brain power even discussing the possibility.
“Strapped for cash”.
Delusional owners believe fans will support ownership that cries it is “strapped for cash”.
Yes, so in fact both parties are delusional.
I’m thinking more like 2028 as the 2027 season will be cancelled.
Clean house – ownership on down.
Jo Adell for Parker Meadows and Troy Melton. Arte can fantasize about the playoffs and the Tigers get a power bat for CF. Then the Tigers need to go get another starter.
Adell can’t play CF very well.
Sshhhhh
I like Adell, but he doesn’t have baseball instincts.
He doesn’t run the bases well. Doesn’t throw to the right bases. Doesn’t take good routes.
If ever there is a player that needs to be left in one spot, and just left alone, it’s Adell.
Neto has great instincts, but doesn’t have elite tools. Adell has elite tools but doesn’t have the instincts.
Yea, the stats dont back that up this year.
Halo11Fan You are a fraud! All you do is complain. I even offered to play along in regard to your Neto conspiracy and as usual, you fell flat.
Quit pretending you are an Angels fan and change your name.
I’ve only have seen highlights on him but your assessment seems dead on. I remember reading scouting reports that had him as a 5 tool player and his lack of any skill in the OF is glaring if you watch any of the highlights. As someone who grew up playing baseball you’d think the one skill every OF guy has is the ability to catch the ball on the fly. Domínguez for the Yankees also seems to struggle. Like what do they guys practice in the minors?
I’m a fraud. You can’t challenge what I write so you call me names.
On the internet, they call that a Tuesday.
Bk, could you explain why stats don’t back that up?
The most sophisticated baseball data on the planet back that up.
Nothing is special about his arm, range, bat speed, or running speed. So could you be specific?
Here is the issue. I DID challenge you and you failed to offer anything new. You complain without any reasonable alternative.
I will offer you another chance.
Explain who you would put in at SS since Neto, in your mind, should not be the Angels SS?
Explain where you would put Neto once you move him away from the SS position?
Any reasonable adult knows that unless you have a solution to your complaint, it is meaningless gossip.
This is the perfect example!
I am in no way a fan of Adell, but unlike you I do not repeatedly gripe about his abilities. Why? Because right now, there isn’t a better alternative. If I had a solution I would definitely be complaining.
I have said it before. My feeling on Adell is he has always been a gifted “athlete” and unfortunately his athleticism allowed him to get away with learning basic baseball tasks, and it seems he was never properly coached and taught the fundamentals of proper fielding.
Old and new stuff. Google Fangraphs top 100 prospects for 2023. They call him a secondbaseman.
Look at statcast. That’s current.
Look at fangraphs defensive rankings. Which utilize the the sophisticated defensive data a baseball fan can get. He’s 25th out of 27.
Seriously, except to bow to your baseball acumen in the face of others, what do you want from me?
The solution would have been to draft a freaken shortstop, How many time am to say that? They won’t do it.
It’s not today I’m worried about. If he’s plan A, the Angel brass are idiots. And they have done nothing to convince me they have a clue.
Why don’t you just change your screen name to..Tomorrow doesn’t exist so why plan for it?
The constant band-aides philosophy is why this team stinks.
So you have nothing to offer?
Move him to 2nd base when you have a 2nd baseman waiting in Moore?
No alternative for SS and create a logjam at 2nd base? You want to create a bigger hole by putting a brandade where there isn’t any hole? You can tout your all worldly fancast and statgraphs all you want, it does not solve anything.
You complain about your “M and M” boys yet you clearly are a terrible GM/ businessman/ owner. In order to run any sort of business you have to know when someone is just complaining to complain. Real world business person know that they listen when someone has a solution to the complaint/ problem.
It is funny that after you get backed into a corner you finally say “it is not today you are worried about”. I have been saying FOR DAYS, that maybe Neto isn’t the long term plan, but he is for now the best they can put out there and they have other pressing needs to worry about.
you clearly are a poor reader!
Tomorrow doesn’t exist? Go back and re-read what I have said from the beginning.
After you are done eating crow.
Tell me how you are sorry because you didn’t read how I said the Angels have bigger problems to address before the look at moving Neto off SS.
Then go change your name to HaterHalo11Non-Fan. That seems more appropriate.
AngelsFan1972
it seems he was never properly coached and taught the fundamentals of proper fielding.
========================
I’ve been saying this for almost 6 years. He was nowhere close to being ready when he was promoted, and they’ve been promoting and demoting continuously.
He can catch the ball in CF, but that was never going to be his position.
But the worst of all was signing guys like Renfroe & Hicks, and a couple more weak DHs to take ABs away from Adell. This is their 10th straight year < .500. When you win 70-80 games, you have to play your promising kids 150 games.
That said, if it helps, it feels like Henry Davis is going to be a worse development job.
@joebrady. They were talking about neto. Halo11fan is relentless about moving neto to 2nd the only problem is we dont have a ss if we did that. Everyone agrees on adell. he just isn’t a baseball player he’s a athlete, but he does take wrong angles and sucks at baserunning. I think it’s mostly because he was a football player first. Trading ward and signing a centerfielder would help to not expose him as much.
Hardly any Angels players are properly coached.
Rex. Why don’t you talk to me? I’m saying he’s not a good shortstop and it freaken blows my mind the Angels haven’t drafted a shortstop. Blows my mind.
They drafted Moore, not the current number one prospect but Moore!!!!
Get it right? I doubt the Angels are smart enough to realize he’s not a good shortstop.
@halo11fan. Because I have and it doesn’t matter at this point. We move neto to second and who’s the ss. Why draft a ss when that’s the only position that’s decent besides catcher. They have alot of other holes to worry about.
Oh my God!
The Angels don’t realize Neto not a good shortstop. Thats the point.
Wouldn’t it be great if we actually had a GM, who would draft the best player available, but he won’t because he thinks Neto is a good shortstop.
This isn’t about today. Like Adell he should be nothing more than a stop gap. But Perry obviously doesn’t know that.
This is about the stupidity of this organization a lot more than it is about Neto. He’s a flashy hot dog, which some people mistake as good, but he has a slow first step.
@halo11fan. Why replace the only position that’s not broken is my point, and I’m not going to repeat myself.
Because his upside is limited and there have been a lot of talented shortstops we have passed by.
It’s why I was not high on Schanuel’s, his upside is limited, which is fine, but not for that draft pick slot.
This is a lot more about Minasian than Neto. I can’t believe what this organization does.
Neto is a good player, but he should not be plan A.
@HAlo I already explained why Perry does not choose high school players in the first round.
Can you tell me what high round high school prospect the Angels had that gives you such confidence in the Angels system ?
Jordyn Adam?
Jo Adell?
Kyren Paris?
My guess is you have to go back to Mike Trout. The fact is Trout is a special talent that would have excelled regardless of who drafted him.
The Angels have been on steady decline for over 20 years now. They were blessed with 3 blessings during Arte’s tenure Vlad Guerrero, Mike Trout, and Shohei Ohntani. These have helped hide some of the ugly truths about Arte, but more and more fans are realizing what he has done underneath the surface which keep the team from contending.
Meadows can’t hit very well. Match made in heaven 😉
Came to hear to say Taylor Ward for Troy Melton…I like Ward over Adell, and wouldn’t give up Parker for either.
Delusional
Since most fans tend to overvalue their own team’s prospects, here’s what Baseball Trade Values thinks of these four players/prospects:
Jo Adell: 18.2
Parker Meadows: 12.7
Taylor Ward: 10.1
Troy Melton: 7.2
BTV isn’t the end word on the MLB marketplace, especially given asset bubbles at the trade deadline, but it’s more objective than most fan perceptions of what their players are worth.
Tigers pass…. Keeping Meadows and Melton. We don’t need a .233 hitter (Angels selling high and we’re selling low).
But we could use 26 homers and a WAR over 2.
Instead we have a hitter (Meadows) who can’t even hit .233.
Imagine a world with no more Joe Adell questions in the chat.
Ooh, is that the one where Ohtani is banned for gambling on baseball?
How about freeing Trout?
Trout to Toronto for Santander, Manoah, 2 players outside of the top 28, and LA eats $10 mill a year for remainder of the agreement.
Who says no?
Nancy Reagan?
Society says no
Since Canada no longer is buying American, does that mean the Jays are out of the trade market?
Manoah hahaha he couldn’t get a little leaguer out.
Trout with his no-trade clause
Who says no?
The most important piece in the trade, TROUT, says no
I am completely over it with the trade Trout ideas. LOL
FFS!!
@bettermuppet. Trout does he doesn’t want to be traded.
Angels will still be picking a lane on Aug 1. Top 3 worst FOs in MLB (with Rockies, White Sox). But #1 overall from last 15 years (the Mike Trout era)
Its ownership. Perry has actually traded and drafted well especially given that he was saddled with Rendon and racist Arte.
If he’s drafted well, why is both our team and minor league system awful?
It’s a lot bigger than one contract.
You don’t think Neto, Schanuel, Moore have at least been decent picks? The flaw you could point out is that he is drafting for near-term impact when the roster isn’t otherwise good enough to compete on that timeline.
Minasian lucked out with Neto but others are failed draft picks. This year’s draft was simply terrible.
Shortstop, no.
Neto is a good pick, as a second baseman, just as the scouts said.
A no slugging firstbaseman is never a “good” pick, the best you can hope for is adequate.
And the person selected after Moore is now the number one prospect in baseball.
Why do you hate Neto at SS? Fangraphs gave him positive defensive grades his first 2 years and slightly below this year. Baseball Reference loves his D all 3 years and many respect their defensive metrics much more than Fangraphs. I believe, Fangraphs writers even quote the rival Baseball Reference defensive numbers instead of their own website’s. Neto was recently included on the famous Fangraphs Trade Value series as a top 40 asset as a young, controllable SS…no where did it mention his inability to play the position. This seems like you’re island only, perhaps?
Stop with this Perry has drafted and traded well. He’s been a bad GM.
Except for the “stop” part, I completely agree.
People are entitled to their opinions, I just try to support mine with data.
Orange, just to continue… Minasian seems more interested in moves that save his job than moves that will help build a franchise.
@Halo11: Agreed. There’s no sense of foundation and security in the Angels franchise with both GMs and managers routinely changing. And next year, they may very likely have a new manager (and coaching staff).
So, it’s hard to blame Perry completely (for his short-sighted moves) with his neck on the line. I’m sure he doesn’t see himself as their long-term GM and is probably surprised that he’s made it this far. One thing is for sure, once he’s gone, he won’t look back.
I believe Perry sees Adell as a stop gap. I don’t believe Perry is astute enough to see Neto as a stop gap.
There is not a single position player in our minor league system. This year, did we draft a potential star at #2? No. Why the F not?
Without a complete restructuring, I don’t have any hope for tomorrow and Perry is not the guy to take us to tomorrow.
If by some miracle the Angels do make the playoffs, how is that going to carry over to next year? It’s not. We are still going to be bad, a fluke playoff birth won’t change that.
The good news. I truly believe this is Moreno’s last year owning the Angels. I’m confident the new owner will completely restructure this team, and that starts with getting rid of Perry and rebuilding this team’s minor league system.
WADR, Minasian has had horrendous trades.
Jorge Soler trade which only helped the Braves get rid of dumb contract. Raisel Iglesias for Jesse Chavez and Tucker Davidson who both were useless.
Can’t see either traded. Control beyond this year and they should be contenders next year with Moore’s experience and potential free agent spending.
Not saying Drevies for Ward.
Devries for Trout with a gigantic paydown.
The beauty of trade rumors are outlandish trade ideas.
These are in the category or outlandish ideas.
Think outside the box, my friend, it can be enjoyable once in awhile.
My apologies, this was meant in response to RonDarling
I agree, just post any reasonable trade rumor. It gets people talking. I’m not an LA, Philly, or Trout fan, but I’d love to see him traded to Philly. He’s too good to never win a playoff game.
Sell, sell, sell and sell some more!! This season is a big improvement from last year but they are not making the playoffs this year.
Clean. House. I wish it weren’t Perry making the trades, but you fight the war with the army you have. Everyone but Neto. Move ’em all.
Bro, Perry have basically won or drawn every trade he’s made. I dont get the hate. This dude has made lemonade out monkey sht.
Too much tar fume!
“Limited financial resources” – so tired of hearing this crap as there has been nothing to suggest whatever might have been 7 months ago during the control struggles still exists today.
Also, most teams not on NY or LA have some sort of “limited financial resources”.
If I’m the Padres, I end All talk with Chicago or Boston and move on to one of these 2.
I agree with you 100% per cent.
The Angels have to know what lane they are in — the exit only lane.
Still no talk about Kenley Jansen, the single most likely player on their roster to be moved. Hmm.
They’re probably going to keep Jansen. It would be on brand for them.
I know where you are coming from on this, but in Jansen’s case, it’s a pure cash money situation. He’s on a $10M contract. That his name doesn’t even come up in discussion seems odd.
If they can get something worthwhile they might as well. It is going to be a bit until they compete again.
It’s a good thing the Angels decided to keep Rengifo last year!
???
I’m assuming it was meant sarcastically, as Rengifo’s trade value is considerably lower than last season.
Prediction: Moreno won’t pick a lane.
@YBC This is completely wrong. Moreno will always pick a lane. Spoiler alert…..it will be the wrong lane.
Moreno will insist on competing in 2026 even though we’re a good dozen or so players away from really being able to do that.
I do think Perry could get some near MLB ready talent for these two. Cassie from the Cubs, Crawford from the Phillies, arms and other assorted pieces from a number of teams.
But Arte is incredibly short sighted and hamstrings his GMs.
Arte has chosen cheap GM’s.Both are bad.
Trade both. Trade Soriano.
Get as much back as possible.
See you in 26.
It’s more realistic that it will be 2036 when they might contend because Arte might be actually gone by then. As long as he breathes as an owner they will not make it above .500 at the end of the season.
Buyer beware. Adell is an athlete, not a baseball player. To his credit, he’s better than I thought he could be. Imo, his best version is a slugger with low OBP, high SOs and low BBs that is a poor defender and runs the bases poorly.
Don’t worry, they won’t trade Adell. Unless someone significantly overpays for him – and no one will. There’s a higher likelihood that they’ll trade Ward for the right package (and I’m not convinced that they will).
Bold statement
He’s not a baseball player. An amazing athlete, yes.
He’s limited, but he can still be valuable.
Agreed. I was just amused by your bold assessment of Adell.
So what does he do, spin plates on his nose? I’d pay to see that.
What does he do? Look at his statcast page.
Cool. I’d still pay to see him spin plates on his nose.
The Padres are one of the teams that has checked in on Ward. The White Sox are asking for a top 10 prospect in the Padres system for Robert and Preller said no to that. The Orioles are asking for even more for Laureano. so Ward might be the best RHB with power option.
Arte Moreno
Open up your Cobb Web wallet takes those handcuffs off of Perry Minasian
Only a decent GM would know what to do with more money.
Trade Ward, Renigfo, Jensen, Adell, Kikuchi, Anderson.
Basically anybody except Trout, Ohoppe, Schaunuel, Neto. Anybody else is up for sell. (I know I butchered some names)