Phillies are a 'strong fit' for Orioles .746 OPS outfielder, per rival MLB execs
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Phillies are a 'strong fit' for Orioles .746 OPS outfielder, per rival MLB execs originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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With under two weeks to go until the 2026 MLB trade deadline on August 3, the Philadelphia Phillies have three clear needs.
Their pitching needs in the rotation and bullpen are big, but the right-handed hitting outfielder need is by far the most important one. This offense is just not good enough as it is right now.
Rival MLB executives believe there is one player who would be a "strong fit" for the Phillies this summer. According to MLB insider Robert Murray of Fansided.com, that outfielder is Baltimore Orioles .746 OPS veteran Taylor Ward.
Phillies are a 'strong fit' for Orioles' Taylor Ward
"In their search for a bat, rival executives believe Taylor Ward stands out as a strong fit," Murray writes.
The Phillies need a right-handed hitting outfielder badly, and while they've tried to get good production from Edmundo Sosa, Felix Reyes, Derek Hill, and now Bryan De La Cruz, the production from everyone other than Hill has been inconsistent.
Adding a righty-hitting outfielder is a must, and Ward would be a phenomenal pickup if the Phillies could actually swing such a deal.
This season, Ward has a .746 OPS with a .251 batting average. He has an AL-best 80 walks, and has a quality 112 OPS+ so far in 2026 with 20 doubles and 2.4 bWAR.
The only issue with Ward's game is that his power has seemingly gone away. After hitting 36 home runs last season, Ward has hit just seven so far in 2026. He had 107 RBIs last year and has 27 so far this season.
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His slugging percentage in 2026 is .359, whereas last year it was .475. That's a huge drop-off, and his home run rate going from 5.4% to just 1.5% is the big reason why Ward's offensive production might be a bit concerning.
While he has dropped his strikeout rate by 6.1% and increased his walk rate 5.8%, the lack of power is a bit concerning. However, for the Phillies, they can't get picky.
Ward is probably the best right-handed hitting outfielder they could add, as he's a one-year rental and could be available if the Orioles fall out of postseason contention.
For now, the Orioles are just 3.0 games back in the AL Wild Card and might not sell. But if he's on the move, the Phillies are a natural landing spot. He'd be a huge upgrade, and while not Byron Buxton or Mike Trout, would be the next-best thing.
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