Brock and Salk: Mariners get ‘big upgrade’ in Taylor Ward trade

The Seattle Mariners addressed perhaps their biggest need hours before Monday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline, acquiring outfielder Taylor Ward from the Baltimore Orioles.

The 32-year-old Ward, who spent the past eight seasons in the AL West with the Los Angeles Angels, is coming to Seattle in a deal that is sending reliever Alex Hoppe and minor league pitchers Brock Moore and Harrison Kreiling to Baltimore.

Mariners trade Orioles for outfielder Taylor Ward

Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk reacted to the Mariners’ reported trade shortly after the news first surfaced Monday morning.

“You did not give up anything of great value, nor should you to get back a two-month rental,” Mike Salk said. “But in terms of the guy you get back, he’s a good hitter. He’s been a good hitter for a while. He’s a good player.”

Ward, a right-handed bat, has consistently been an above-average bat since 2021, posting a wRC+ of 108 or better in each season during that stretch, including a career-best 136 in 2022. He was known more for his power with the Angels as he had three 20-homer seasons and a career-high 36 in 2025.

Ward’s offensive profile has shifted more to an on-base focus this year in Baltimore with a career-best .383 mark. Despite hitting just eight home runs, Ward has the same exact wRC+ (117) right now as he had last year.

Ward’s .383 on-base percentage would lead the Mariners’ qualified hitters. Randy Arozarena is just behind that at .378, but the next-closest Mariner is J.P. Crawford at .330.

“So you’re talking about a guy that for the totality of your team is 50 to 60 points better of getting on base,” Brock Huard said. “… You get the absolute kind of process-driven, ‘this is the right fit,’ right-handed outfield bat that you need. This is a big upgrade from Victor Robles. This is a guy that can hit at the top of the lineup. And now this does give you, if you’re kind of looking at that, an everyday left fielder.

“Does that put Randy down more at DH? Does that put Randy on the table (in trades)? Does that open up other opportunities over the next four or five hours?”

Ward’s addition comes two days after Seattle sent veteran starting pitcher Luis Castillo to the Chicago White Sox for a three-player package headlined by reliever Seranthony Domínguez and catcher/outfield prospect Boston Smith.

Salk pointed out that by moving the $7.81 million in salary still owed to Castillo this season and taking on the $3.58 million still owed to Ward and the $2.1 million still owed to Domínguez, the club has created some more financial flexibility beyond this year.

“So, in terms of like money in (and) money out, it’s about the same for this year,” Salk said. “Then you obviously save next year and beyond on Castillo.”

Hear the full conversation at this link or in the audio player in this story. Listen to Brock and Salk weekdays from 6-10 a.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app. 

Seattle Mariners trade deadline coverage

• A closer look at Mariners’ haul from Luis Castillo trade
• ‘He was loved here’: M’s pitchers reflect on Luis Castillo’s impact
• Mariners trade Luis Castillo to White Sox for 3-player haul

Related

Trade Deadline: Ex-M’s pitcher, Portland native among big names on the moveMariners trade rumors focused on pitchers as deadline ticks downMariners trade Orioles for outfielder Taylor WardMLB Trade Deadline: The moves of note around the leagueA closer look at Mariners’ haul from Luis Castillo trade‘He was loved here’: M’s pitchers reflect on Luis Castillo’s impact