Potential trade target: Taylor Ward

The corner outfield has slumped this summer, but could be a long-term solution.

The Royals find themselves in the thick of a post-season push, but with a team that still has holes to patch. They have already added a reliever in Hunter Harvey, and ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports this week that they may add another, as well as a bat.

They would prefer to grab an outfielder — the market is pushing them in that direction, too — but they’re not inclined to be picky, as long as it’s someone to drive in Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez.

Already the Royals have been connected to White Sox outfielder Tommy Pham and Marlins second baseman/outfielder Jazz Chisholm. But with the Angels sitting with the fifth-worst record in baseball, outfielder Taylor Ward could be an attractive target.

Ward is a right-handed hitting corner outfielder batting .230/.314/.399 this year with 14 home runs in 97 games. He has really slumped since June 1, batting .175/.286/.294 over his last 41 games.

Still, he has a proven track record as an average-to-above-average bat. His best year came in 2022 when he hit .281/.360/.473 with 23 home runs in 135 games. He was limited to just 97 games last year but posted a 105 OPS+ with 14 home runs. Ward is a lefty-masher, batting .333/.385/.522 this year against southpaws, with a pronounced split much of his career. The 30-year-old has an above-average walk rate at 10.5 percent, although his strikeout rate has spiked up to 25 percent this year.

Ward has experience in either corner of the outfield, playing left field this year. He’s a solid defender with a great arm. With Hunter Renfroe playing well in right, Ward could make sense in left field, splitting time with MJ Melendez there, with some time at DH as well.

The Angels are far out of contention, but there are some reports they may hang onto Ward for next year. That could very well be posturing for trade talks, but the price for Ward should be higher since he would not be eligible for free agency until after the 2026 season. Jeff Passan reported earlier this summer the Angels were asking for “giant returns” for Ward. The Pirates and Angels were reportedly deep into talks on Ward a few weeks ago, but a trade did not materialize at that time.

Ward has several controllable years left, but his age should give Royals fans pause. Hunter Dozier was another late bloomer who had a big year at the plate, only to decline precipitously after age 28. Ward could be a long-term solution, but only as far as he can maintain his offensive production.