Trade bait Taylor Ward shines for Angels entering series with Rockies

Taylor Ward will be in left field on Tuesday night when the Angels host the Colorado Rockies in Anaheim, Calif., provided his name plate is still attached to his cubicle in Los Angeles' clubhouse when he arrives at the ballpark.

Like many Angels players, Ward has been among those whose name has been bandied about in trade rumors with Tuesday's deadline looming. Ward is an attractive option for teams looking for a bat because he will not be eligible for free agency until after the 2026 season.

But Ward, whose grand slam lifted the Angels to an 8-6 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Sunday, said he is doing his best to not get caught up in the possibility of being dealt by the team that drafted him in the first round in 2015.

"I haven't really thought about it," Ward said. "I just come in here every day and do the best I can to get better. Whatever happens, happens. I can't control it. So I'm not really thinking about it."

Ward's season ended abruptly last year when he was hit by a pitch in the face in late July, but he has bounced back nicely. He leads the club in at-bats (379), runs (47), home runs (16) and RBIs (51) and is tied for the team lead in walks (45) and games played (103).

"I think I've just gotten more pitches over the middle of the plate," Ward said. "Moving forward, I've preached it for the last few years, that's where I need to be getting it and swinging it. So looking for it there and not missing it."

Right-hander Griffin Canning (3-10, 5.04 ERA) will make his 22nd start of the season on Tuesday for Los Angeles. He is coming off a no-decision last Wednesday against the Seattle Mariners, allowing one run and four hits in five innings.

Canning is 1-0 with a 2.31 ERA in two career starts vs. the Rockies.

Right-hander Cal Quantrill (7-7, 4.09) will make his 22nd start of the season for Colorado.

Like the Angels' Ward, Quantrill has heard his name mentioned in trade deadline rumors. But the six-year major league veteran has already been traded twice in his career, so a potential move is not something that consumes his thoughts.

"I know how this goes," Quantrill said. "There's a business side to this. The most important thing we can do as players is go out and continue to go out and play as professionals. Right now, I'm a Colorado Rockie, and I want to win every single game I pitch for the Colorado Rockies. If that changes then I'll change."

Quantrill, who is 1-1 with a 2.18 ERA in six career appearances (five starts) vs. the Angels, is in his first season with the Rockies and has actually pitched better at Coors Field as opposed to the road. He's 3-3 with a 3.95 ERA at home while going 4-4 with a 4.24 ERA on the road. He's also allowed fewer home runs (seven) at home than on the road (eight).

"It's not always fun to pitch at Coors, but the guy on their team has probably done it less," Quantrill said. "So we've got to choose to see it as an advantage."

--Field Level Media