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Ranking 5 Pittsburgh Pirates outfield trade targets with spring training looming

Let's look at 5 trade targets the Pirates should go after, ranked from worst to best.

ByNoah Wright|
May 1, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad (13) reacts after being hit with a eighth inning pitch against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
May 1, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad (13) reacts after being hit with a eighth inning pitch against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images | Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
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Taylor Ward

The Los Angeles Angels are coming off their worst season in team history, but they still have some viable players they could trade now in order to add some prospects and reload. One of those players is slugger Taylor Ward, a player we here at Rum Bunter have talked about plenty of times before. However, he’s just that good of a fit for the Pirates.

Last season, Ward turned in a .246/.323/.426 line, .325 wOBA, and 111 wRC+. Ward hit 25 homers in 663 plate appearances with an above-average .179 isolated slugging percentage. His 9.5% walk rate is a typical mark for the outfielder, but he struck out nearly a quarter of the time with a 24.6% K%. That’s a huge step down from his 19.2% K% from 2023. Regardless, it was solid production, and he has the potential to produce more.

Ward had a .344 xwOBA and a .458 xSLG%. Both were well above average and in the 81st and 80th percentile, respectively. His 13% barrel rate was also a career-high and tied with Rafael Devers across the league. Other batters with a similar barrel percentage in 2024 included Kyle Tucker (12.9%), Joc Pederson (12.8%), and Pete Alonso (13.2%). Ward also made good swing decisions, as his 20.8% chase rate was in the 94th percentile of batters, and marked the second time he has been above the 90th percentile in this statistic.

Ward is also generally a strong defender in the outfield. He has now put up +3 OAA in each of the last two seasons, as well as a positive UZR/150 in ‘23 and ‘24. Defensive runs saved typically sees him as about average, however. Ward’s throws average 87.6 MPH (72nd percentile), and he is top 20 in feet covered in jump above average.

Ward is affordable, as he’s going to make $7,825,000 in 2025. He also comes with another year of control via arbitration for 2026. His performance and underlying numbers are some of the best of any player the Pirates could trade for to solve their outfield issues. The Angels do have a pitcher-heavy system, as five of their top 10 prospects on BA, and eight of their top 15 on Pipeline are hurlers. The Angels also seem wary of making a big trade with Ward. Still, he is by far the best Pirates fit among players who have ample MLB experience.

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