The Royals have a left field problem. In 2026, their left fielders collectively hit .211/.316/.316, a wRC+ of 80 that was fourth-worst in the league. The year before that they ranked last in the league in production from the left field position. Even when they made the playoffs, it was despite some poor hitting from their left fielders, who finished with the fourth-worst wRC+.
The team could use an upgrade from Isaac Collins, who significantly regressed from a solid rookie performance in Milwaukee.
The Royals have a lefty-heavy lineup, so a right-handed bat would fit well. But the league has a shortage of quality right-handed bats. Veteran Taylor Ward is a right-handed hitting outfielder who has shown an ability to get on base, with some solid power. Could he be a potential free agent target for the Royals?
Ward was a late bloomer who didn’t have his first full season as a regular in the big leagues until age 28 in 2022. He hit 23 home runs with a .360 on-base percentage and a career-high 3.5 rWAR that year. His numbers took a slight dip in 2023, and his season ended prematurely when he was hit in the face by a pitch in July, ending his season. He bounced back to hit 25 home runs the next year, then set career-highs in home runs (36) and walks (75) in 2025.
The Angels shipped Ward to the Orioles last offseason for pitcher Grayson Rodriguez, a seemingly steep price to pay for one year of the outfielder. His power mysteriously vanished, and he hit just seven home runs in 111 games with the Orioles. They traded him to Seattle, and his numbers fell off a cliff. He went 11-for-88 (.125) with just one extra-base hit. He finished with a very healthy on-base percentage of .359, and his plate discipline was better than ever. He posted a career-best 16.3 percent walk rate for the year, while cutting his strikeout rate to 21.3 percent. However, his .311 slugging percentage was the lowest of any qualified hitter, and his 102 wRC+ was his worst since he became a regular.
Ward’s 2026 performance is pretty head-scratching but he could be a good candidate for a bounce-back season. He made some adjustments with the Orioles, with a shortened, slower, flatter swing to make more contact, with an extremely patient approach. He had the fourth-best walk rate, the lowest swing rate in baseball last year, and he has one of the lowest chase rates. When he swings, he frequently hits the ball the other way. He had one of the lowest pull rates and highest oppo rates in baseball. He is also one of the best hitters at “squaring up” on the ball.
So where did his power go? He did hit for modestly more power on the road, hitting six of his seven home runs away with a .365 slugging percentage. He also suffered a hand bruise in April that may have lingered throughout the year. But his exit velocity dropped significantly this year, his hard-hit rate dropped, and his barrel rate dropped. His approach also seemed deliberate in trading power for contact.
Ward has had wide platoon splits, hammering lefties in the past, but he did not show much of a split this year. He is a slightly below average defender in left, certainly passable out there. He will turn 33 next month, so most likely he is looking at a short-term deal. I would guess he lands a one-year contract worth around $8-12 million with perhaps an option for 2028, but a team willing to bet on him could offer two years.
At the very least, Ward could provide the ability to get on base the Royals sorely need at the top of their lineup. But his lack of power with a changed approach should be a concern. Ward may actually be too patient at the plate, a problem that seemed to plague incumbent left fielder Isaac Collins.
Ward could be an intriguing buy-low candidate for a Royals team that needs more production from the left field position. His plate discipline and ability to get on base would be welcome additions, particularly from the right side. If his power outage was partly the result of his hand injury and an overcorrection in his approach, there could be some upside here. A one-year deal with an option would be a reasonable gamble, giving the Royals a chance to upgrade left field without making a major long-term commitment.
