Blue Jays trade deadline target: Taylor Ward

The Toronto Blue Jays need a right-handed power bat.

One player who fits the bill who could be available before Thursday’s trade deadline is Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward. According to ESPN’s article looking at the best available players to be traded, Ward is ranked 21st and has a 40% chance of being traded. However, the Blue Jays aren’t listed as a fit for the 31-year-old.

Adding a player like Ward would instantly make the Blue Jays’ lineup even more dangerous, so let’s profile the right-handed batting outfielder!

Scouting report

Ward was selected 26th overall in the 2015 draft by the Angels, making his debut three seasons later in 2018. After four seasons in a part-time big league role, Ward broke out in 2022, hitting 23 home runs in 564 plate appearances for a 136 wRC+, his career-high at this point. The outfielder had an above-average 2023 season, but it was ended early as Alek Manoah hit him in the face with a fastball.

In 2024, Ward slashed .246/.323/.426 with 25 home runs in 663 plate appearances, with a 2.8 fWAR and 112 wRC+. His home run total was a career-best, but has been matched this season. In 2025, Ward is slashing .229/.305/.485 with 25 home runs in just 459 plate appearances for a 114 wRC+ and 2 fWAR.

Defensively, Ward has played exclusively left field this season, where he has 1 Defensive Runs Saved and 2 Outs Above Average in 910 innings. For his career in left, he has -3 DRS and 9 OAA in 3,169.2 innings, but also has experience in right field.

If you’re a fan of Baseball Savant, Ward sits in the 87th percentile for barrels, as well as the 86th percentile for chase rate, meaning he usually doesn’t swing and miss on pitches outside the zone. One area of concern in Ward’s game is his strikeout rate, as he has a 27.9 K%, which sits in the ninth percentile.

Contract situation

On top of being one of the better power hitters available before the trade deadline, Ward also has an optimal contract situation for any team that picks him up.

Unlike Eugenio Suárez, Ward has an additional season of arbitration on his contract, so he’ll become a free agent at the end of the 2026 season. Additionally, Ward earns $7.825 million toward both the payroll and luxury tax.

A concern coming into this deadline was that if the Blue Jays went $40 million over the competitive balance tax of $241 million, their first-round pick would drop 10 picks. Well, with the Seranthony Domínguez trade on Tuesday, that is no longer a concern, as their payroll sits at $281 million.

How does Ward help the Blue Jays?

The Blue Jays need some home run power in their lineup with Anthony Santander down. One way of doing so is by adding Ward to the lineup, as his 25 home runs would be the most on the Blue Jays by a fairly significant margin. It’s becoming increasingly clear the Jays need another right-handed bat in the lineup.

Ward would also fit into the Blue Jays’ plans next season, as he has an additional season of team control. Of course, it would make an already crowded infield even more crowded, but trading for Ward would significantly improve the Blue Jays this season.