The Boston Red Sox are in need of one or two impactful hitters to position themselves as contenders for the 2025 World Series. Among the rumored targets for the team is free-agent infielder Alex Bregman.
However, as time passes, Bregman seems to be drifting away from Boston, with stronger connections now being made to the Toronto Blue Jays and Detroit Tigers.
Cody Williams of FanSided has proposed an alternative for the Red Sox if they fail to land Bregman. He suggests the team could pursue Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward in a trade this offseason, though he acknowledges it wouldn’t be a blockbuster move.
“When you first look at Taylor Ward’s overall numbers, I get why you might feel a bit underwhelmed,” Williams wrote. “He recorded a .748 OPS last season and has a career OPS of .758 while heading into his age-31 season. None of that screams ‘game-changing addition’ that many Red Sox fans are hoping for this winter.
“But Ward’s defensive versatility fills multiple lineup needs, and he’s proven to be a reliable lefty specialist. Last season, while his overall OPS was .748, it jumped to an impressive .873 against left-handed pitching. For his career, his OPS against lefties is .805, almost 50 points higher than his overall mark.”
While Ward might not match the star power of Bregman, he would fill a specific role for the Red Sox.
Other moves would still be necessary for Boston, but acquiring Ward could be a logical step for the organization.
The bigger question, though, is whether such a trade would make sense for the Angels.
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