There haven't been many notable moves so far this offseason, albeit it's still early, but one trade did drop on Tuesday night. Philadelphia Phillies fans were definitely disappointed to see the Los Angeles Angels trade outfielder Taylor Ward.
The Angels dealt the 31-year-old corner outfielder to the Baltimore Orioles for right-hander Grayson Rodriguez. Say what you will about the Angels' return of the injury-saddled 26-year-old former top prospect, but the deal immediately took not just one name, but likely two, off the trade board for the Phillies this offseason.
Phillies fans had been dreaming of a trade with the Angels for Taylor Ward for a while now
Ward has seemingly been near the top of Phillies fans' trade wishlist for years now as the outfield situation has deteriorated over the last couple of seasons. Dreaming of adding the veteran slugger has become a recurring practice, both at the trade deadline and over the winter months.
Ward had a career year in 2025, batting .228 with a .792 OPS and setting career highs with a .475 slugging percentage, 36 home runs, 103 RBIs and 86 runs. Plus, he hits from the right side.
Ward is projected to earn $13.7 million through arbitration. That seems like a steal after what Max Kepler and Nick Castellanos provided for their respective $10 million and $20 million salaries this year.
The Angels had been rumored to be in the market to trade a corner outfielder. MLB insider Jon Morosi prophesized a trade with the Phillies for either Ward or Jo Adell.
"The Los Angeles Angels, I would say a better than 50/50 chance that they move one of their significant veteran outfielders, Jo Adell or Taylor Ward," Morosi said earlier this month. " ... and I'll mention one team in particular, the Philadelphia Phillies ... I could easily see an Angels-Phillies move involving one of those outfielders."
Womp womp. Now with Ward out of the picture, Adell isn't likely to go anywhere.
The 26-year-old, who has two more years of team control, just put together the season the Angels had been dreaming of ever since drafting him in the first round in 2017. Adell hit 37 home runs and drove in 98 this season. Also a righty hitter, the Phillies could have really used his pop in an outfield that looked like it was on life support most of the 2025 season.
Now, the front office will have to continue the search for a new outfield elsewhere, whether through the bleak-looking free agent market or a trade with a different partner.