Here are three things for MLBTR readers to keep an eye on today:
1. What’s next for the Orioles?
Last night’s surprising trade between the Orioles and Angels saw Baltimore bring Taylor Ward into the outfield mix, while Anaheim added a high upside arm to their rotation in Grayson Rodriguez. There’s little reason to wonder why the Angels swapped a rental bat for a roll of the dice on a young pitcher under long-term control who was once among the very best pitching prospects in baseball.
Baltimore’s motivations aren’t quite so easy to parse, given that the club’s outfield was already somewhat crowded with Ward now joining Tyler O’Neill, Colton Cowser, Dylan Beavers, Leody Taveras, Heston Kjerstad and prospect Enrique Bradfield. The trade helps balance out a lefty-heavy Orioles lineup, but Baltimore was already in clear need of additional rotation help. Might the addition of Ward signal that the O’s are prepared to use some of their existing outfield depth to help land a starter? Will they simply turn to the free agent market to fill out their starting staff?
2. Several players in DFA limbo ahead of non-tender deadline:
A large number of players were designated for assignment ahead of yesterday’s deadline to protect prospects from the Rule 5 draft. JJ Bleday, Christopher Morel, Jake Fraley, Tayler Saucedo, Jason Foley, and Ramon Urias stand out among the most notable names to end up in limbo after yesterday’s moves, and now those players figure to be available to any team interested in trading for them at a minimal price before their current teams likely non-tender them this coming Friday. Rangers outfielder Adolis Garcia and catcher Jonah Heim weren’t designated for assignment, but they’re being shopped ahead of Friday’s non-tender deadline. Will Texas line up on a deal for either of the two?
3. MLBTR’s Top 50 Free Agent podcast:
A special episode of the MLB Trade Rumors Podcast goes live today, as Darragh McDonald is joined by Tim Dierkes, Steve Adams, and Anthony Franco for a two-hour conversation covering MLBTR’s list of the Top 50 MLB Free Agents for the 2025-26 offseason with predictions. Whether it’s a discussion of Kyle Tucker and MLBTR’s $400MM prediction for the offseason’s top free agent, or the unpredictability of Dylan Cease’s market coming off a relative down season, the podcast provides insight into the discussions that went into this year’s Top 50 list. The episode is already live on both Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and will be posted here on MLBTR later this morning!
Taylor Ward and Tyler O’Neill in the same lineup… oh joy.
Not to be a jerk, but we’d have to see about O’Neill even being in the lineup. The guy is very injury-prone…
Acoss – I STILL can’t believe the only multi-year free agent contract the Orioles have given out since Elias took over in 2018 is O’Neill’s.
So of all the dozens of free agents he passed on, he finally pointed to O’Neill and said “Now THAT is the first guy deserving of more than one year.”
Absolutely boggles the mind ….
You can say this in hindsight, but to be fair he was coming off of a solid platform year for Boston
It’s not a multi year contract, it’s for one year.
It’s just that that one year of playing time will be spread out over three years.
Jram – He had a .693 OPS vs RHP, had a 33.6K%, missed 49 games, and had a -4 OAA in the outfield.
There’s a reason why the Sox didn’t even offer him a QO despite the fact they needed a RH power bat.
saj – Good one, thank you!
You’re not being a jerk. You actually brought up a really good point. Orioles have a log jam in their outfield, and Ward does seem like the better option, despite not hitting much more than home runs.
Ward is going to replace the Laureano/OHearn combination they traded away. ONeill probably needs to DH at this point assuming hes actually healthy. Ward fits with their team fine its just shocking they gave up Rodriguez to get him.
I think Grayson has too much upside and too many years of control for one year of Ward. As of right now, I think the Angels won this trade.
The deal only makes sense if this occurred:
* Minasian “okay please let me review the medicals for GRod”.
* Elias “Nope”.
* Minasian “fine I will make the deal”.
The Orioles can’t be giving up 4 years of a healthy Grayson for a year of a somewhat net positive contractual control of Ward.
It might be more shocking that the Angels traded Ward straight up for a guy who hasn’t thrown a pitch since August of 2024
Rodriguez missed the year. But he has 4 years left of control. Ward is gonna make over 10 million in arbitration then be a free agent. How much surplus value does he have? Its not a lot.
Some of these guys that are being shopped around are probably non-tender candidates. Adolis Garcia and Jonah Heim come to mind, there are a few others.
A lot of things happened yesterday. Several DFA’d, several added, I feel like this year has a lot of Rule 5 draft guys or is it because last year had to less.
Does MLBTR have more articles on trade deadline day or Rule V deadline day?
Did they not post the Free Agent Contest Leaderboard yet, or am I just not seeing it? I want to see how bad I’m doing. LOL
If Rodriguez’s medicals were clean, teams would be tripping over themselves to beat a Taylor Ward offer to acquire 4 years of a 26 yo with that kind of upside.
I still think that the O’s are bananas for making that trade. Grayson is too much to give up for a year of an OF you don’t even need and isn’t super hot to begin with.
Anyhoo, I missed that JJ Bleday was DFA’d, I like that player and think whoever gets him will benefit long term with a little work.
Why speculate on a trade whose value 100% hangs on the medical scans?