Taylor Blake Ward
@taylorblakeward.bsky.social
Covers Angels: @BaseballAmerica | Covers MLB Draft / Managing Editor: @SportingTrib | Author: In Search of Millionaires | "The Other Taylor Ward"
Tai Peete part of the Donovan return, love the arm and athleticism, don't like he was moved off the dirt, and don't think he can hit, but man, move that kid to the mound and I think you've got a big leaguer; I'll buy on the prospect outcome variance there (Cijntje is also a stud athlete)
February 3, 2026 at 12:30 AM
Tai Peete part of the Donovan return, love the arm and athleticism, don't like he was moved off the dirt, and don't think he can hit, but man, move that kid to the mound and I think you've got a big leaguer; I'll buy on the prospect outcome variance there (Cijntje is also a stud athlete)
concept: MLB teams can "loan" players to other leagues (NPB, KBO, DWL) as part of development or extended dev for time missed (similar to Arizona Fall League); development control will be problem with rotating coaching but talent testing would give variance of great and poor while growing int'l game
January 30, 2026 at 10:57 PM
concept: MLB teams can "loan" players to other leagues (NPB, KBO, DWL) as part of development or extended dev for time missed (similar to Arizona Fall League); development control will be problem with rotating coaching but talent testing would give variance of great and poor while growing int'l game
Bo Bichette will make $42M each of the next three years, Dante Bichette made $42.8M total during his playing career
January 16, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Bo Bichette will make $42M each of the next three years, Dante Bichette made $42.8M total during his playing career
Tatsuya Imai window closes in 30 hours, continue hearing he'll get top of market dollars ($150-200M) with how pitching market now operates (youth/control/cost), which uniquely (not really) takes me to the question: why is the Chicago sports epiphet led by our den-dwelling friends of the woods
January 1, 2026 at 4:01 PM
Tatsuya Imai window closes in 30 hours, continue hearing he'll get top of market dollars ($150-200M) with how pitching market now operates (youth/control/cost), which uniquely (not really) takes me to the question: why is the Chicago sports epiphet led by our den-dwelling friends of the woods
Drew Pomeranz / Jordan Romano signing happened while watching "Wake Up Dead Man" which means I wasn't able to proclaim Glenn Close as the queen to the masses on the other bluebird social anxiety application because I'm a pro's pro (I'm not, thanks for understanding. Glenn Close 4eva, screw the h8rs)
December 17, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Drew Pomeranz / Jordan Romano signing happened while watching "Wake Up Dead Man" which means I wasn't able to proclaim Glenn Close as the queen to the masses on the other bluebird social anxiety application because I'm a pro's pro (I'm not, thanks for understanding. Glenn Close 4eva, screw the h8rs)
Rule-5 is cool, Rule-4 is cooler(er)
December 10, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Rule-5 is cool, Rule-4 is cooler(er)
Zac Gallen at $22M AAV should have been a sign to triple check, love Bob, but man
December 6, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Zac Gallen at $22M AAV should have been a sign to triple check, love Bob, but man
Spotify did not take into account that I chose to listen to Stephen Wilson Jr. and Charles Wesley Godwin more than other artists this year, but hey, Zach Bryan is still cool (and I apparently listened to him, a lot) -- either way, I'm a sad man who listens to emotional country songs about being sad
December 4, 2025 at 5:48 AM
Spotify did not take into account that I chose to listen to Stephen Wilson Jr. and Charles Wesley Godwin more than other artists this year, but hey, Zach Bryan is still cool (and I apparently listened to him, a lot) -- either way, I'm a sad man who listens to emotional country songs about being sad
Cedric Mullins at 1/$7M is an incredible get for Tampa (or anyone that would have granted); he's not the 5+ WAR dude he was during the juiced ball era, but his last three years:
- 2.2 fWAR/162
- 50 XBH/162
- 31 SB/162
- 99 wRC+
Rays with smart spending on moderate impact value at premium position
- 2.2 fWAR/162
- 50 XBH/162
- 31 SB/162
- 99 wRC+
Rays with smart spending on moderate impact value at premium position
December 4, 2025 at 5:15 AM
Cedric Mullins at 1/$7M is an incredible get for Tampa (or anyone that would have granted); he's not the 5+ WAR dude he was during the juiced ball era, but his last three years:
- 2.2 fWAR/162
- 50 XBH/162
- 31 SB/162
- 99 wRC+
Rays with smart spending on moderate impact value at premium position
- 2.2 fWAR/162
- 50 XBH/162
- 31 SB/162
- 99 wRC+
Rays with smart spending on moderate impact value at premium position
Alek Manoah at double-and-a-half league minimum is a bit more than a "show-me" deal, options give options but Angels seem to be taking a flier when looking for an answer
December 2, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Alek Manoah at double-and-a-half league minimum is a bit more than a "show-me" deal, options give options but Angels seem to be taking a flier when looking for an answer
Reposted by Taylor Blake Ward
Cease at 7 years is good when you consider years 1,3,5, and 7 will be good based off his previous Saberhagenmetrics.
November 26, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Cease at 7 years is good when you consider years 1,3,5, and 7 will be good based off his previous Saberhagenmetrics.
also, side note, starting pitcher is going to cost you $17M+ AAV on the norm which might mean you see a shift in how we (and by we, I mean me) evaluate projected starting pitchers, particularly, draft eligible kids who project as starting pitchers with limited relief doubts
November 27, 2025 at 2:56 AM
also, side note, starting pitcher is going to cost you $17M+ AAV on the norm which might mean you see a shift in how we (and by we, I mean me) evaluate projected starting pitchers, particularly, draft eligible kids who project as starting pitchers with limited relief doubts
Hej sociala vänner, my family planned a trip to Sweden with a departure date (from Sweden) on the day of the MLB Draft, which, if you're unaware, I get paid to cover, putting me in a perplexing situation -- has anyone used in-flight WiFi and if so, is it good enough to cover a draft from 35K feet?
November 27, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Hej sociala vänner, my family planned a trip to Sweden with a departure date (from Sweden) on the day of the MLB Draft, which, if you're unaware, I get paid to cover, putting me in a perplexing situation -- has anyone used in-flight WiFi and if so, is it good enough to cover a draft from 35K feet?
Adam Eaton making leap from Michigan State development director to Angels big-league base and outfield coach; John Gibbons bringing much-needed experience (1500+ gms) to chair next to Kurt Suzuki
November 12, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Adam Eaton making leap from Michigan State development director to Angels big-league base and outfield coach; John Gibbons bringing much-needed experience (1500+ gms) to chair next to Kurt Suzuki
Tony Blanco Jr. hit a ball 123mph tonight, which is impressive enough on its own, but he also did it on a BP pitch, which is like, brain-hurting mythological kind of crap
November 9, 2025 at 5:03 AM
Tony Blanco Jr. hit a ball 123mph tonight, which is impressive enough on its own, but he also did it on a BP pitch, which is like, brain-hurting mythological kind of crap
Munetaka Murakami brought internal debates about whether hit tool can be fixed enough to get to power enough to pay enough for first baseman with alarming hit tool -- FO roundtable seems fun at times but when $150M+ is on the line, that decision ain't a fun one to think about being wrong on
November 7, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Munetaka Murakami brought internal debates about whether hit tool can be fixed enough to get to power enough to pay enough for first baseman with alarming hit tool -- FO roundtable seems fun at times but when $150M+ is on the line, that decision ain't a fun one to think about being wrong on
Reposted by Taylor Blake Ward
Shapiro and Atkins gunning for it, good on 'em
January 17, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Shapiro and Atkins gunning for it, good on 'em
happy for Shapiro and Atkins
October 9, 2025 at 2:38 AM
happy for Shapiro and Atkins
Richard Conway smiling upon his work
October 1, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Richard Conway smiling upon his work
Shohei just shooting 118 EV out the gate, because, like, I don't know man, it's annoyingly good
October 1, 2025 at 1:19 AM
Shohei just shooting 118 EV out the gate, because, like, I don't know man, it's annoyingly good
Aroldis sandbagging?
October 1, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Aroldis sandbagging?
Ray Montgomery surprised me with his baseball prowess and decision-making in a positive, but the results speak for themselves as does the bulk of his decision-making; may not ever be a big-league manager again but he's more a baseball man than I thought
September 30, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Ray Montgomery surprised me with his baseball prowess and decision-making in a positive, but the results speak for themselves as does the bulk of his decision-making; may not ever be a big-league manager again but he's more a baseball man than I thought
Skubal on Saturday, Crochet on Sunday... Sox and Tigers and Bears and stuff, oh my...
September 26, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Skubal on Saturday, Crochet on Sunday... Sox and Tigers and Bears and stuff, oh my...
Matthew Stafford, known mostly for being a high school classmate of Clayton Kershaw, is attending Clayton Kershaw's final regular season start; Stafford is believed to be in town for work related items
September 20, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Matthew Stafford, known mostly for being a high school classmate of Clayton Kershaw, is attending Clayton Kershaw's final regular season start; Stafford is believed to be in town for work related items
You may be an open book [social media], but I'm a bit more complicated than that. The inner machinations of my mind are an enigma.
... social media is a dark place, and it sucks...
... social media is a dark place, and it sucks...
September 18, 2025 at 4:43 AM
You may be an open book [social media], but I'm a bit more complicated than that. The inner machinations of my mind are an enigma.
... social media is a dark place, and it sucks...
... social media is a dark place, and it sucks...