1:14pm: The Pirates are indeed interested in Ward, , though hes one of multiple targets on their radar and a deal isnt near the finish line at present. 11:24am: The Pirates and Angels are in talks on a trade that would send outfielder from Anaheim to Pittsburgh, Paul Zeise of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and 93.7 FM The Fan. While a deal isnt yet complete, Zeise that Pittsburgh is actively trying to get the deal acro s the finish line. Adding to the outfield is a sensible pursuit for a Pirates club that is in the NL Wild Luis Tiant Jersey Card hunt but has received poor production from its outfield. While is having one of his best seasons (.280/.344/.486, 17 homers, 131 wRC+), the rest of the group has been lacking. Even with that standout production from Reynolds, the outfield has combined for a .225/.297/.357 batting line overall. The resulting 84 wRC+ indicates that Pittsburgh outfielders have been 16% worse than average at the plate. Each of (.187/.269/.349), (.202/.259/.274) and (.216/.285/.324) have struggled mightily in the outfield. has roughly league-average numbers on the whole but hasnt hit well when tasked with patrolling the outfield (.205/.292/.270 on those days). Ward, 30, would give the Bucs a steady bat to plug into a corner spot, with Reynolds manning the other. The 2024 campaign hasnt been Wards best, but hes hitting .238/.321/.417 (107 wRC+) with 14 homers on the year. And dating back to a 2021 breakout, the former first-round pick carries a .259/.340/.441 slash with quality defensive marks, particularly in left field. Wards below-average speed limits his range, but he has a strong and accurate arm thats helped him to be a solid defensive contributor. For a perennially cost-conscious club like Pittsburgh, Ward makes extra sense. Hes being paid a reasonable $4.8MM in 2024 and is controllable for two additional seasons beyond the current campaign. Hell earn a pair of raises in arbitration for 2025 and 2026, but his price tag isnt likely to balloon to untenable levels, even by the Pirates standards. Those extra two seasons of control make him a particularly appealing target for a club that doesnt have a top-ranked outfield prospect knocking down the door at the moment but is teeming with young pitching talent that looks like the foundation for a competitive core. The Angels are reportedly , though its always po sible that stance is at least partially posturing. Its also feasible that the Pirates feel Ward checks enough boxes for them that theyre willing to make an offer the Angels dont feel they can pa s up, even if their general preference is to only deal from their stock of rental players. That talks are ostensibly substantial even with three weeks to go until the deadline would suggest that Pittsburgh is at least willing to discu s the po sibility of parting with some compelling names. Peter Strzelecki Jersey