The Cleveland Guardians badly need a reliable thumper, a middle-of-the-order producer to inject some power into their lineup. They rank near the bottom of most relevant offensive metrics such as wRC+, OPS, batting average, runs scored, and homers.
Acquiring a true difference-maker isn’t easy, though, especially in this market. More than half the league is trying to bring in win-now talent, and there are just a few sellers willing to let go of their veterans or impactful players.
One of the primary targets for teams looking for a right-handed-hitting outfielder is Taylor Ward. He only has seven home runs on the season for the Baltimore Orioles, yes, but he hit 36 in 2025 and has a long track record of surpassing 20 bombs per year.
Additionally, Ward is an above-average hitter, with a 118 wRC+ this season before Friday’s games and a 117 mark last year with the Los Angeles Angels. He is not only talented, but also consistent.
For the Guardians, landing Ward would be seen as a coup. He would fit in seamlessly in their lineup and, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, they are one of the squads pursuing him.
“The teams pursuing right-handed hitting outfielders are waiting to see what the Baltimore Orioles do with left fielder Taylor Ward. The clubs in that market, to varying degrees, include the New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers and Cleveland Guardians, according to people briefed on the discussions,” Rosenthal said.
Ward’s power output this year has been very disappointing, but he has hit 20 doubles in addition to the seven home runs and could get hot at any minute. Even if he doesn’t regain last year’s power stroke, his sole presence should dramatically improve Cleveland’s lineup.
Of course, as Rosenthal suggests, there will be competition for Ward’s services. The Yankees recently suffered Cody Bellinger’s injury, who joined Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton on the IL. The Phillies and the Rangers are trying to stay as competitive as possible in tough divisions, so they will likely push hard for Ward.
Still, Guardians’ President of Baseball Operations Chris Antonetti has the pieces to get something done and bring Ward to Cleveland. It could be one of the missing pieces in the lineup as they brace for a long battle for the AL Central with the Chicago White Sox and, possibly, the Minnesota Twins.
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