There is one clear need for the San Diego Padres at the MLB trade deadline: a corner outfielder. Specifically, the team needs to find its new left fielder. With Jurickson Profar in Atlanta and Jason Heyward banged up, the team is in dire need of a fresh face in the outfield.
According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the Padres were named as a top fit for Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward.
Ward has played with the Angels his entire career and has had his ups and downs. But through all of those tribulations, Ward has remained with the team, despite his rocky moments and constant trade rumors. But this year, Ward seems like a prime candidate to be on the move.
For the Padres, they should be a top destination. Ward is a great fit and would fill a need for the Padres in left field. The Angels outfielder isn't just a position need, but he's an offensive weapon as well.
In 2025, Ward is on pace to set his single-season record in a lot of the major categories. He's already reached 18 home runs, just seven shy of his previous career high. His 13 doubles are half his career best, and his 49 RBIs are more than half what he finished with in his previous best season.
The only area where Ward is behind is his hits and batting average. He has just 57 hits in 270 at-bats, good for a .211 batting average, .036 below his career average. Despite his poor on-base percentage of .271, Ward still has a solid OPS of .738. He's been one of the best sluggers in baseball, and the Padres could use someone like him in their lineup.
Under team control through the 2026 season, the Padres could also get an extra year out of Ward. His addition to the Padres makes a ton of sense. Feinsand linking the Padres to Ward as one of his best fits makes a ton of sense for everyone involved.