After an all-too familiar losing season, even with Mike Trout playing more than he has in years, the Angels are headed into yet another offseason where they’ll be looking to pull the franchise out of its rut and finally get back into contention. This year, the Angels have highlighted two areas they hope to improve headed into 2026: center field and third base. The hot corner should be fairly straightforward to upgrade, seeing as Yoan Moncada’s impending free agency leaves no clear incumbent at the position outside of injured veteran Anthony Rendon, whose future is unclear at this point. Center field, however, will be more complicated.
That’s because the Angels already have four outfielders for the 2026 season: Trout, Jorge Soler, Jo Adell, and Taylor Ward. Trout moved off center field this past season in hopes of staying healthier. While he spent much of these season in a DH-only role, the club has indicated that they hope to use him in right field on a regular basis next year. That would allow Soler to reclaim his job as the club’s regular DH, which would be good news given that playing the outfield this year in deference to Trout created some injury issues for Soler throughout the season.
With Trout and Soler handling right field and DH, that leaves Adell and Ward. Adell handled center in Trout’s place this year, and the former top prospect actually had a career year as he slugged 37 homers and posted a wRC+ of 112. He graded out disastrously with the glove in center field, however, and is clearly better suited for corner outfield duty. That’s why the Angels would like to bring in a center fielder, but Ward had an excellent season in his own right as the club’s left fielder with 36 home runs and a wRC+ of 117. If the Halos are going to add a center fielder, they’ll need to solve that logjam.
Who would be better for the club to part ways with, between Ward and Adell? There’s certainly arguments on both sides of the conversation. Ward has been far more consistent throughout his career, with five straight above average seasons by wRC+ and 106 home runs in 610 games during that time. It would be tough for the club to compete next year if they subtract that sort of reliable production from a team that was already bottom-five in baseball this year by wRC+. With that said, Ward has just one year left in arbitration before he reaches free agency and is projected by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz for a $13.7MM salary in 2026. Trading Ward would have minimal impact on the club beyond 2026 and could actually open up some space in the budget to more aggressively pursue additions to other parts of the roster.
By contrast, there’s a real chance that Adell’s season was a simple flash in the pan. This was his first season of even league average production since breaking into the majors in 2020, after all. It’s entirely possible that trading Adell could be something that doesn’t come back to bite the Angels at all, and they would simply be selling (relatively) high on their former top prospect before he regresses back to the unproductive form he’s shown in prior seasons. On the other hand, however, the upside of keeping Adell is considerable. He’s still just 26 years old and remains under team control for both the 2026 and ’27 seasons while projecting for a far less onerous $5.5MM salary in next season. If Adell’s breakout this season was sustainable, trading him would hurt the Halos both in the present and in the future.
Of course, it’s possible that neither one winds up traded. The Angels could simply forgo their preferred addition of a true center fielder and install Adell at the position again next year, eschewing defense and hoping that an offseason of work on his fielding could yield better results. Another way to keep both Adell and Ward in the lineup would be trying to find a taker on Soler. If they were to move him, that would allow Ward to remain in left while Trout and Adell share right field and DH in a timeshare dictated by Trout’s health. That seems like an ideal scenario, but it’s unfortunately little more than a pipe dream. Soler is owed $13MM in 2026 and posted an 88 wRC+ with negative WAR last year, so it seems unlikely the Angels would be able to move him without eating the vast majority of his salary. The club is surely better off hoping for a rebound from Soler and trading one of Ward or Adell for actual value.
How do MLBTR readers think the Halos will approach their outfield conundrum this winter? When the team arrives at Spring Training, will Ward or Adell be penciled in as the club’s starting left fielder? Have your say in the poll below:
Bohm and Nick C
To the angels for Ward and Soler
Salaries match up identical
@phillie. I was actually thinking that, nick can kinda play 1st and 3rd kind of like soler can play the outfield sparingly.
To be fair, Nick couldn’t play 3rd when he was a Third Baseman…
Perry will trade Ward for Cast
ellanos and eat all his contract
I don’t think Ward is good enough for Nick but if they throw in 2 prospects I think they got a deal!
@mikeywinner You’re kidding, right?
Ward is much better than Castellanos. Compare their Brefs.
Ward: 2.7 War / 116 OPS+
Cast: -1.0 War / 88 OPS+.
mikeywinner is obviously a Philly homer.
So in mikeywinner’s eyes the Angels trade Taylor Ward, who is well respected and statistically a better player last year and ADD two more players for a player that is more than likely going to be released this off season.
It is comical how “homers” over value players they root for. You’d also have to consider the fact the Castellanos right now does not have the best locker room reputation either.
I’m pretty sure @mileywinner is joking. Even Phillies fans know that Castellanos sucks
Why would the angels trade a good player + a bad player, for two bad players? Makes zero sense for the angels.
@MT – Actually, a simple Bohm for Ward deal is not that far off. Phils need a RH LF; Angels need a 3B. Both are controlled for one year at salaries that are relatively close. Bohm is not a bad player at all – he is an average plus starting 3B in the game, just as Ward is an average plus starting OF. Perhaps a small edge to Ward that could be made up with a throw-in.
Casty for Soler however – neither one is good. Phils don’t want Soler at all at this point, and Casty is perhaps a bit better but neither one is worth much in a discussion.
@carverandrews. Casty for soler would be the low end prospect, angels might do it because they need a 1st/3rd backup/dh. Gives them room to sign a cheap cf maybe Bader when his market drops later on. The rest of the money on bullpen guys that need a team
My laptop says someone’s getting Adell
@mlb. I just popped in a tidepod, and I’m tripping in case you were wondering.sorry it’s a trade rumors site, but it does kinda makes sense. Its definitely a angels trade even if i would rather have ward traded for a prospect. Minisian might jump the shark because his deal is up.
Rumor has it…
Ward for 500 Alex. Ok its says most likely BTW. The pattern suggests no one, and sign minor league deals.
They should have traded Ward last year when he had substantially more value. I feel like that
Adell has far more trade value and is really only good in RF where Trout and Soler will have to split time. So he’s the most logical choice.
The Angels are going to do the least logical thing, though, and keep both.
@halosheavenJJ. Agree ward, Jensen,rengifo and Anderson should’ve been dealt for whoever. I didn’t care about the peraza, chafin, garcia trades, because it was nothing to get them
Jensen is a different animal. He came her with the assurance he would close. I think the honorable thing was to not trade him.
@halo11fan. Agree, but a good chance he would come back since he lives around anaheim, and it’s his only chance to close.
Rex, yep.
Move trout to first base trade ward..
None of the above. The Angels don’t think that far ahead.
Was waiting for the annual question. No they should not trade him.
Just get rid of Soler and get a CF rotate the rest of those guys through DH and the OF.
Neither if they’re smart, Ward if they want a better return. But it’s the Angels. Probably ship both off for Nolan Arenado or some other declining vet.
The Angels have 3 corner outfielders a DH, and no Center Fielder.
Just a brilliantly constructed team by genius Minasian.
They should have Traded Ward long ago. Adell’s value is likely not going down, so trade Ward.
Minasian the great GM he is, is likely to do the dumbest thing possible, and that would be to keep both. Second dumbest thing would be to trade Adell, and the least dumbest is to trade Ward.
Ward has value. 2025 was the third season in the last 4 he had an above average WAR.
Adell has not shown he can be even an average level player in MLB. His 1.2 WAR in 2025 is a career high and that is still far below average.
I am sure there will be people that are thinking “but he hit 37 HRs”. That doesn’t make him a valuable player. Not long ago there was a player that hit 40 and could only get a minor league deal the following season. Chris Carter should be a cautionary tale against believing HRs are the be all, end all.
Adell fWAR was so bad because he not a CF. I’ve never seen a player as screwed with as Jo Adell.
It’s unfair to include his defense. He’s 112 wRC+ player. . That’s how he should be viewed
Adell may have had a 111 OPS+ last year, but he had a 79+ in his career before that. Someone wanting him will really have to buy into his numbers this past season.
I’m fine with your position, I don’t think he’s going to take a step back. I have no issue if you do.
His expected stats were borderline elite. he was also dealing with an injury that hurt his speed. I don’t think he’s taking a step back and I doubt expect him to hit in such tough luck again. Expected xwOBA, 90%.
,
It goes a little beyond that. Adell made a swing adjustment about the halfway point of 2024.
From July 12th through the end of 2024, Adell put up a .253/.341/.440 line with 6 HR, 8 2B, and a triple across 170 plate appearances.
Obviously I’d love for him to maintain that OBP but he’s always been a free swinger.
Adell’s WAR is hurt by his really bad play in CF. He has no business being there. FanGraphs has his defense at -16.6.
In 2024 Adell was a Gold Glove finalist in RF. An intelligent organization would have kept him there, but the Angels brought in Soler and ensured the OF defense sucked from pole to pole.
Adell is likely a 2.5 WAR guy if parked in RF all year.
Being a “finalist” for a gold glove has no meaning or value. It means the same thing as “didn’t win”.
You know, by definition, 1.2 WAR is not average.
They should have moved Trout to 1st base years ago like the Phillies did with Harper. If they plan on Adell in CF then they need to tell him now and not at the beginning of spring training. This organization never plans ahead or thinks about the future. So much drama off the field as well with the Skaggs civil trial. They won’t sign any free agents more than a year because of the looming lockout that Arte is anticipating. Who would want to sign there anyway? Place is a mess. No AC in the weight room. The stadiums audit was a complete disaster. Sell the team Arte !!!!
I think Trout is good in center and that the Angels don’t want to waste his ability at the easiest position possible. When the Phillies moved Bryce it’s because he wasn’t as good as an outfielder in my opinion.
It’s to keep him healthy. And it worked.
The Phillies moved Bryce because his elbow was shot
Call the Reds.. Ke’bryan Hayes, TJ Freidl and a lottery ticket for one of Adell or Ward.. solves problems for both clubs..
How on earth does that solve a problem for the Reds? They lose their starting 3bman and CF’er and pick up a corner outfielder.
Brady Singer for Ward. Solves problems for both teams
Ward would just add to the Reds’ problem of signing every current and former 3B they can get their hands on.
If you go by bWAR, Jorge Soler (6.5 career) is a better player than Dante Bichette (5.7).
This does not compute.
It boggles my mind how Dante Bichette ended his career with such low bWAR. I remember him having really good seasons with the Rockies…
I don’t like bWAR nearly as much as fWAR. That said, Bichette is a really bad defender. He’s playing out of position. I don’t blame that on the player.
Couldn’t field and couldn’t hit outside of Coors. Bichette hit 137 of his 299 career Home Runs in Denver. The only ballpark that he put up any kind of power as a true road player was Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego (9 Home Runs)
Because the statistic (or how we use it anyway) is flawed it’s not gonna be perfect for every player.
Jo Adell is definitely leaving for someone that the Angels probably don’t need. SAVE TROUT.
Or they could do the smart thing and just dump Soler and get someone that can play CF
Soler has negative trade value. Cutting him and eating the last year of Rendon’s contract is nearly $50 million in wasted money.
That’s how well run the Angels are.
A mainstay of the boards — Jo Adell trade rumors. Really wish this site was rebranded as JATR.
They should trade Ward and get back something of value, but they probably won’t.
Neither because the Angels are stupid
Angels don’t trade players away because Perry has to go all in for his annual 75 wins. But you can mark them down to trade for some mediocre relief pitcher they had years ago as the big move
I think Perry rebuilt the bullpen every year he’s been here. He’ll also trade for somebody from Atlanta.
It’s too bad they’re not looking for pitching. The Pirates could use either Ward or Adell. Actually they could use both of them…But they don’t have cf or 3b themselves to trade.
Ward to the Reds makes sense…
The Angels should try something they’ve NEVER done before. trade everyone! Ward And Adell will never get more in return than this of season, and dump Rendon. we can’t do anything with Rendon’s contract on the books anyway. give Mike the option to stick it out and help rebuild the franchise as it’s leader, or trade him to a place of his choosing. trade Zack, Logan, Nolan, Moore, Paris and whomever else we can, load up on young pitching, and start from scratch. We’ve already given away 10 losing seasons and 9 seasons of top 5 MVP seasons with 4 wins. it’s not getting any better
Ward, Nolan, Adell, Kusichi too but not Moore.
A Jo Adell article regarding trade rumors and its not written by Steve Adams?
Why would they trade Adell after his best season? Again that’s why you don’t pay for this site nothing but OPINIONS.
Did the word “RUMORS” in the title escape your sharp senses?
Uhh read the article dummy it’s OPINION. why do these posters who hide under rocks like to poke out once a year to talk to me? Back to your pathetic life under the rock you go
Trade ‘em both. How much of that 72-90 team should they bring back?
Unless you can get a premium for either Ward or Adell, put Trout back in CF. It more than likely is just for 1/2 to 3/4 of the season, then Rada can come roam CF for the next decade.
I am half joking here, but I would rather see that happen then for the Angels give away Ward or Adell for a defense first CF’er
They should trade Ward, but the Angels virtually never do the things they should do.
Soler Manasian and Artie Moreno. To any MLB team that wants them. For. Three broken bats. Glove strings and 35 battting practice balls. Oh and the necessary
PTBNL
Solves all the problems
Are the Angels More Likely to Trade Taylor Ward or Jo Adell?
Let’s stop pretending this is about “roster flexibility.” It’s not. It’s about ownership inertia.
Mike Trout is locked into DH. There’s no viable outfield depth. And now we’re floating trade rumors about the only two guys left who can actually play the corners? What’s the plan—Jorge Soler moonwalking into left field and suddenly becoming a Gold Glover?
Magic Johnson said it best:
Shohei Ohtani had been losing all those years with the Angels. He wanted to win.”
Shohei Ohtani didn’t leave for glitz or glamour. He left because Arte Moreno’s version of “committed to winning” translates into half-measures, missed windows, and a front office that treats urgency like a suggestion.
This isn’t a rebuild. It’s a rerun—of Gilligan’s Island.
And unless ownership changes course or the owner himself sells the team we’re all marooned. Watching young talent drift away while the front office spins it as strategy.
Rumours last year were of trades with The Royal’s. Still makes sense.