The Angels acquired right-hander Grayson Rodriguez from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for outfielder Taylor Ward on Tuesday night, potentially filling one of their rotation holes and clearing a corner outfield logjam.
Rodriguez missed all of the 2025 season dealing with lat and elbow injuries, and he ultimately underwent surgery to have bone chips removed from his elbow in August. Rodriguez is expected to be ready for spring training, an Angels spokesman said after the trade was announced.
General Manager Perry Minasian is expected to address the deal on Wednesday.
Rodriguez last pitched for the Orioles in July 2024, before a lat strain ended a promising season. Rodriguez, 26, had a 3.86 ERA through 20 starts before he was hurt.
In spring training this year, Rodriguez felt elbow discomfort during a March 5 Grapefruit League start.
He then had another lat strain in mid-April. While he was rehabbing that in July, he had more elbow trouble. That led to the August surgery.
Assuming Rodriguez is ready to go when the season starts, he would join a rotation that includes right-hander José Soriano and left-handers Yusei Kikuchi and Reid Detmers.
Rodriguez is under control for four seasons, while Ward is set to hit free agency at the end of the 2026 season.
A first-round draft pick in 2018, Rodriguez reached the majors in 2023, and posted a 2.58 ERA over his final 13 big-league starts. He carried that success over into 2024, before he was hurt.
By moving Ward, the Angels cleared the way for Mike Trout, Jo Adell or Jorge Soler to play the two corner outfield spots, which would allow them to acquire a good defensive center fielder or have Bryce Teodosio play center.
Ward, 31, was one of the longest-tenured Angels, although he had been the subject of trade rumors for the past few years. The Angels’ first-round pick in 2015, Ward debuted in the majors in 2018, and played 704 games over the past eight seasons. Ward reached career-highs with 36 home runs and 103 RBIs in 2025. He hit .228 with a .792 OPS.
The deal clears some money off the Angels’ books. Ward was set to make about about $14 million in his final year of arbitration. Rodriguez is still not eligible for arbitration, so he will make just above the major league minimum salary of $780,000.
The Angels could use that money to fill their other holes. They need at least one more starting pitcher and a third baseman. The Angels also could apply that money toward a new center fielder.