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Thread: Trade Candidate: Taylor Ward

  1. #1
    Member Bourgeois Zee's Avatar
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    Trade Candidate: Taylor Ward

    2nd in the series, many believed the Angels would deal Taylor Ward at the Trade Deadline. That didn't happen-- not because the Angels didn't have suitors, but because the Angels are the Angels. Ward is a very good player, but he's 30 and remarkably unlikely to be a part of the next good Anaheim team.

    In 2024, Ward took a slight step back in his counting numbers. He ended up playing a full season, but the .246 BA and .323 OBP were decidedly less than either his exceptional 2022 or his rather bland 2023. He's serviceable offensively and has been for three seasons.

    The Case For:
    - His track record suggests Ward is an above average bat.
    - He kills LHP, to the tune of .287/ .355/ .450/ .805 over his career.
    - Ward is a very good defensive OF, capable in either corner. He was +4 OOA according to Statcast.
    - Speaking of Statcast, that page he owns is very intriguing: Good walk rate, elite sweet-spot ability and chase percentage numbers, very good barrel, xSLG, wwOBA, and other numbers too.
    - Ward has pop in his bat. Had he played last year in Cincinnati only, he'd have had 34 HR. That'll absolutely play as a cleanup hitter.
    - Ward has a high floor-- he's almost assuredly an above average bat and a quality defender. He led the AL in range factor last year in a rather cavernous home park.
    - Ward is a 2027 FA, so he's controllable (and fairly cheap) for a few more seasons.

    The Case Against:
    - A 740 career OPS against RHP doesn't exactly scream difference-maker.
    - If he's cheap and decent with a high floor, he's likely to be expensive in terms of trade prospects.
    - His five errors led AL LF. In Cincinnati, where he won't need to show as much range, the errors might overshadow his other defensive tools.
    - He's arbitration eligible in 2025, so his cheapest years are behind him-- and his parent club. Likely to get expensive relatively soon.

    Angels' Team Need:
    - According the MLB, LA needs young talent, especially at 3B and CF. They can always use pitching too.

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    *BaseClogger* (10-14-2024),camisadelgolf (10-12-2024),Redeyecat (10-21-2024),UKFlounder (10-12-2024)


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  4. #2
    Go Reds Go! UKFlounder's Avatar
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    Re: Trade Candidate: Taylor Ward

    I really enjoy posts like this.

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    Bourgeois Zee (10-12-2024),Redeyecat (10-21-2024)

  6. #3
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    Re: Trade Candidate: Taylor Ward

    Quote Originally Posted by Bourgeois Zee View Post
    2nd in the series, many believed the Angels would deal Taylor Ward at the Trade Deadline. That didn't happen-- not because the Angels didn't have suitors, but because the Angels are the Angels. Ward is a very good player, but he's 30 and remarkably unlikely to be a part of the next good Anaheim team.

    In 2024, Ward took a slight step back in his counting numbers. He ended up playing a full season, but the .246 BA and .323 OBP were decidedly less than either his exceptional 2022 or his rather bland 2023. He's serviceable offensively and has been for three seasons.

    The Case For:
    - His track record suggests Ward is an above average bat.
    - He kills LHP, to the tune of .287/ .355/ .450/ .805 over his career.
    - Ward is a very good defensive OF, capable in either corner. He was +4 OOA according to Statcast.
    - Speaking of Statcast, that page he owns is very intriguing: Good walk rate, elite sweet-spot ability and chase percentage numbers, very good barrel, xSLG, wwOBA, and other numbers too.
    - Ward has pop in his bat. Had he played last year in Cincinnati only, he'd have had 34 HR. That'll absolutely play as a cleanup hitter.
    - Ward has a high floor-- he's almost assuredly an above average bat and a quality defender. He led the AL in range factor last year in a rather cavernous home park.
    - Ward is a 2027 FA, so he's controllable (and fairly cheap) for a few more seasons.

    The Case Against:
    - A 740 career OPS against RHP doesn't exactly scream difference-maker.
    - If he's cheap and decent with a high floor, he's likely to be expensive in terms of trade prospects.
    - His five errors led AL LF. In Cincinnati, where he won't need to show as much range, the errors might overshadow his other defensive tools.
    - He's arbitration eligible in 2025, so his cheapest years are behind him-- and his parent club. Likely to get expensive relatively soon.

    Angels' Team Need:
    - According the MLB, LA needs young talent, especially at 3B and CF. They can always use pitching too.
    I like Ward as a target. He wouldn't be my big addition though. If he's replacing Steer and/or Fairchild, he's a nice upgrade. They'd still need another clean-up type IMO.
    All my posts are my opinion - just like yours are. If I forget to state it and you're too dense to see the obvious, look here!

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    Re: Trade Candidate: Taylor Ward

    I’d like Reds to do better, I don’t see Ward as a difference maker. However, Ward is the kind of pickup we can expect from the Reds. He’ll enable Reds to shed someone like Benson and provide much more solid production.

    I’m not too worried about .740 OPS against RHP. It could be worse, lot of good hitters are pedestrian against same handed pitching, but thrive against opposite hand pitching.

    So I’d call Ward a decent target, if the cost is not too high.

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    Redeyecat (10-21-2024)

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    Re: Trade Candidate: Taylor Ward

    Ward comes with 2 years of control and would be a solid corner outfielder. His olus defense is very appealing as well.

    Ward in RF, Friedl in LF, and another glove first CF would be excellent defensively and enough offensively.

    The Reds need 2 guys of Ward caliber or better as additions this offseason.

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    mth123 (10-12-2024)

  11. #6
    Member Bourgeois Zee's Avatar
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    Re: Trade Candidate: Taylor Ward

    Quote Originally Posted by herbdizzle View Post
    Ward comes with 2 years of control and would be a solid corner outfielder. His olus defense is very appealing as well.

    Ward in RF, Friedl in LF, and another glove first CF would be excellent defensively and enough offensively.

    The Reds need 2 guys of Ward caliber or better as additions this offseason.
    That would be one of the best defensive OF in the game.

    I'm with you completely that they need another OF too, if they get Ward. But he's cheap enough salary-wise that they could absolutely do that.

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    Re: Trade Candidate: Taylor Ward

    Quote Originally Posted by herbdizzle View Post
    Ward comes with 2 years of control and would be a solid corner outfielder. His olus defense is very appealing as well.

    Ward in RF, Friedl in LF, and another glove first CF would be excellent defensively and enough offensively.

    The Reds need 2 guys of Ward caliber or better as additions this offseason.
    I dunno about enough offensively. A sub-.700 OPS defensive CFer, Friedl and Ward doesn’t do it for me. If Ward, then I’d rather keep Friedl in CF and a Fraley platoon in a corner.

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    Re: Trade Candidate: Taylor Ward

    Great target. And he comes with two years of team control. Last season, the Angels' primary second baseman was Brandon Drury (.469 OPS). I imagine Ward has very similar trade value to Jonathan India. Hmmm ...
    Quote Originally Posted by westofyou View Post
    The Reds biggest problem is their country club ownership share situation that dissolves blame, distributes equity to uninvolved parties and saddles staff with limitations yearly

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    Re: Trade Candidate: Taylor Ward

    One guy I’d keep an eye on is Dalton Varsho of the Jays. He’s just had rotator cuff surgery and might start 2025 later than OD. Don’t know if he’s tradable (injured) but maybe comes cheap with the injury.

    He’s not the offensive player Reds are looking for, but he’s a very good defender who plays CF, and hit .700 OPS this year. If they could add a Ward and a Varsho it might shore up their outfield offense and defense, including CF.

    Of course, Reds would have to review the medicals on Varsho, there is injury risk, but maybe he comes cheap. Arb eligible, with two more years of control.

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    Re: Trade Candidate: Taylor Ward

    The more important question is what would it take to get him? Thinking a pretty high position pĺayer and pitcher along with a lotto or two.

    How about Marte, Philips and Maxwell?

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    Re: Trade Candidate: Taylor Ward

    Quote Originally Posted by herbdizzle View Post
    The more important question is what would it take to get him? Thinking a pretty high position pĺayer and pitcher along with a lotto or two.

    How about Marte, Philips and Maxwell?
    I'd do that, but I'd bet the board would go crazy.
    All my posts are my opinion - just like yours are. If I forget to state it and you're too dense to see the obvious, look here!

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    Re: Trade Candidate: Taylor Ward

    Quote Originally Posted by mth123 View Post
    I'd do that, but I'd bet the board would go crazy.
    Not at all. I wouldn’t say no. The Angels would say no. Reds would be offering them three talented problems. Nobody wants Reds’ problems.

    Marte got suspended for PEDs and then hit .533 OPS. Phillips’ control landed him back in Rookie ball. Maxwell misses bats but his walk rate at AAA was 6.64.

    I liked the idea of a swap for India. If prospects, I could see a deal for Arroyo, or Stewart, or Petty — one of them plus another prospect depending on which.
    Last edited by Kc61; 10-13-2024 at 12:19 AM.

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    Re: Trade Candidate: Taylor Ward

    Quote Originally Posted by camisadelgolf View Post
    Great target. And he comes with two years of team control. Last season, the Angels' primary second baseman was Brandon Drury (.469 OPS). I imagine Ward has very similar trade value to Jonathan India. Hmmm ...
    Looking at his stats, that was my reaction as well. I'm not sure he's actually that big of an upgrade for the roster overall, but an India/Ward 1:1 would be a better balance for us.
    Games are won on run differential -- scoring more than your opponent. Runs are runs, scored or prevented they all count the same. Worry about scoring more and allowing fewer, not which positions contribute to which side of the equation or how "consistent" you are at your current level of performance.

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    Re: Trade Candidate: Taylor Ward

    Quote Originally Posted by Kc61 View Post
    Not at all. I wouldn’t say no. The Angels would say no. Reds would be offering them three talented problems. Nobody wants Reds’ problems.

    Marte got suspended for PEDs and then hit .533 OPS. Phillips’ control landed him back in Rookie ball. Maxwell misses bats but his walk rate at AAA was 6.64.

    I liked the idea of a swap for India. If prospects, I could see a deal for Arroyo, or Stewart, or Petty — one of them plus another prospect depending on which.
    I agree with you, but a lot of people here seem to love scatter armed pitchers who throw hard. Others would complain that they are selling low on Marte.

    As for the thought on an India for Ward deal, I don't think the Angels would have interest in India. They may want Steer though since he's cheaper and has more years of control. Steer for Ward straight up would be a big win for the Reds. The Reds would probably need to add a sweetener or two.
    Last edited by mth123; 10-13-2024 at 12:54 AM.
    All my posts are my opinion - just like yours are. If I forget to state it and you're too dense to see the obvious, look here!

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    Re: Trade Candidate: Taylor Ward

    I like the idea of hanging onto Arroyo. I hope he Elly and Mclain are the long term infield. I dont care what the positional alignment is.

    Petty and Burns are untouchable at this point but willing to discuss pretty much any other minor league arm.

    Would Steer and Marte for Ward do it?

    ( I also find these enjoyable BZ as it helps talk through values of guys)
    Last edited by herbdizzle; 10-13-2024 at 02:17 AM.

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    Bourgeois Zee (10-13-2024)


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