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Red Sox Rivals Predicted To Make Rare Intradivisional Trade
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- Red Sox Rivals Predicted To Make Rare Intradivisional Trade
Red Sox Rivals Predicted To Make Rare Intradivisional Trade originally appeared on NESN . Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The entire American League East, including the 32-45 Boston Red Sox , remains in reach of a playoff spot as June nears a close. One MLB analyst still suggested a deadline deal between two of Boston's rivals.
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Bleacher Report's Zachary Rymer predicted a trade that sends Taylor Ward from the Baltimore Orioles to the Tampa Bay Rays . Although the Orioles are just two games away from a wild-card spot, Rymer still thinks the sub-.500 team will shop pending free agents amid a disappointing season.
That includes Ward, who wields a .389 on-base percentage in his final year under team control.
"Trading with division rivals is generally a no-no, but less so when there's essentially zero risk of the traded player haunting his original team in future seasons," Rymer wrote. "That would be the case here, and trading with the Rays would allow the O's to get into MLB's No. 11 farm system."
Rymer explained the "simple" case for Tampa Bay pursuing Ward, suggesting the Rays could send the Orioles one or two pitching prospects such as T.J. Nichols.
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"The Rays need any kind of impact hitter, and there's no better place for one than in an outfield that has a .653 OPS," Rymer wrote. "And since said outfield skews left-handed, Ward as a fit is too obvious."
The Orioles acquired Ward from the Los Angeles Angels last offseason for oft-injured pitcher Grayson Rodriguez . While the right-hander has reached base at an elite clip with a 17.4 percent walk rate, Ward hasn't delivered the pop Baltimore anticipated.
Ward has only five home runs through 80 games after belting a career-high 36 last season. His ISO has plummeted from .247 to .107, and he's recorded his lowest hard-hit rate (41.1%) since 2021.
A changed approach has still led Ward to score 51 runs as Baltimore's leadoff hitter. He could give Tampa Bay's lineup some much-needed depth alongside Yandy Diaz , Jonathan Aranda and Junior Caminero .
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