Taylor Ward and the Pirates Are a Match Made in Heaven

Ward’s batted ball data was very solid, which isn’t surprising given the power he showcased this season. His barrel rate shot up to 13.7%, the best mark of his eight-year career. He also reached a max exit velocity of 111 mph, a number he hasn’t touched since 2023.

To put in perspective just how impressive Ward’s 2025 season was, he routinely ranked near the top of the sport in his counting stats. His 36 home runs tied him for the 10th most in the sport, and Ward was also one of only 63 qualified players to post a wRC+ above 115.

Ward couldn’t have had such a successful season without his success against four-seam fastballs. He registered an xSLG over .600 against the pitch while also posting a hard-hit rate near 60%. It helps that he saw four-seams nearly 30% of the time, meaning he had plenty of opportunities to do damage.

Overall, Ward couldn’t have asked for a better season offensively. Thanks to his power surge, he soared from a solid middle-of-the-order bat to one of the best power hitters in the sport, showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

Why the Pirates Would Benefit From Ward

Now that we’ve taken a closer look at the tremendous season Ward just had at the plate, it’s time to dive into why he’d be such a valuable asset for the Pirates. His offensive abilities could immediately strengthen their lineup, providing much-needed consistency to the order.

Starting with his power, the Pirates are in desperate need of more slugging in their lineup. The Pirates finished 30th in the sport in homers (117), which was over 30 fewer than the next closest team. Only five of their hitters reached double-digits bombs.

For a team looking to be on the rise, this type of offensive performance leaves the pitching staff with little room for error.

Not only this, but if Ward had spent the 2025 season with the Pirates, he would’ve become the first hitter since Josh Bell in 2019 to hit 30 home runs. Although teams can be competitive without an extreme focus on home runs, the playoff team with the fewest home runs this season finished with 35 more than the Pirates (Padres, 152).

As mentioned, the Pirates also had only two hitters with at least 50 plate appearances finish the season with a wRC+ above 100, a number that makes it virtually impossible to stay competitive. With an offense that struggled this much, an incredible amount of pressure begins to fall on the incredibly young and inexperienced pitching staff.

You may be wondering how the Pirates could afford such a move, and the answer is simpler than you may believe.

Ward is entering his last year of arbitration and is projected to make only $13.7 million. The Pirates got close to freeing up this money at this year’s trade deadline alone, making it reasonable to assume that they could afford such a contract.

With Ward coming with only one year of control, the Pirates aren’t locked into any long-term deal. This is good news for the team, as they’ve had a long history of not wanting to commit to many multi-year deals.

Another thing to consider is the veteran presence that Ward could bring to the locker room.

As their projected roster currently stands for 2026, the Pirates will only have two players with five or more years of service time. Adding a player like Ward could do wonders in helping the younger players learn the ups and downs of the big leagues.

All of this makes Ward an ideal fit for the Pirates, both on the field and financially. And with just one year of control remaining, his trade value won’t be nearly as high as it would’ve been when the Pirates first checked in on him in 2024, a factor that could work in their favor heavily.

What Could a Potential Trade Look Like?

While Ward is still quite a productive player, his trade value has diminished from the numerous times he’s been available before. For the Pirates, this works out in their favor, as they have plenty to offer up in terms of young talent, allowing the Angels to maximize their return without selling too short.

One trade we can point to as a decent example of what Ward’s value might be is the Eugenio Suárez deal that took place at this year’s trade deadline. Although Suárez was better than Ward by a decent margin this year, the contract situation and playstyle can give us a comparable estimate in terms of trade value.

Suárez was traded to Seattle in the middle of his final season of control, with his power-first offensive profile drawing similarities to Ward. Suárez, 34, was dealt for first baseman Tyler Locklear, right-handed pitcher Hunter Cranton, and right-handed pitcher Juan Burgos.

Locklear was the main piece of the deal, as he looks to have the potential to be a solid power bat in the big leagues.

The asking price for Ward is likely to be less steep, although we could see some prospects in a similar situation on the move.

The Pirates have a surplus of young pitching in their system, and they can afford to part with some pieces to acquire a big-time bat of Ward’s caliber. With their rotation looking more and more solidified, it’ll be harder for players to crack this group.

Right-handers Thomas Harrington and Zander Mueth are two names that immediately jump out to me as potential fits here. Harrington and Mueth both have shown tremendous potential as top prospects, but they have also showed their weaknesses this season.

Both arms have the upside to be solid middle-of-the-rotation arms, although the path to reaching this level in Pittsburgh has become a little more cloudy. With the Angels in desperate need of more pitching depth, Harrington could step in right away to help their rotation. Mueth is still just 20 years old and in Low-A, but he could step into a similar role in the near future.

The Angels could also benefit from adding an offensive piece in this deal as well. It’ll likely be someone closer to the big leagues, and Jack Brannigan could fit this role nicely. Brannigan spent most of this year on the injured list in Double-A but posted an encouraging 130 wRC+ with solid power numbers in High-A last season.

It’s quite difficult to project exactly what a deal like this could look like, but players in similar molds to Brannigan, Harrington, and Mueth seem like safe bets. All of these players come with upside despite down years in 2025.

It also makes sense for the Pirates to be willing to sell on these players despite their potential. The path to the big leagues has become much trickier for their starting pitchers, and with question marks surrounding players like Brannigan, they could become valuable throw-ins given their past successes.

All things considered, the Pirates are in a unique position to make a deal like this work. Ward’s diminished trade value, paired with his proven ability to impact a lineup, creates a rare opportunity to add a legitimate power bat without surrendering immediately impactful talent.

By dealing from areas of surplus, such as their pitching depth, the Pirates can address one of their biggest roster weaknesses without jeopardizing their long-term future. While no trade is guaranteed to pay off, targeting a player like Ward reflects the type of calculated risk they should be making with their talented young core.