I've softened on the notion that Los Angeles Angels OF Taylor Ward would be a bad get for the Pirates.
I just think they need better.
If Ward was the second-best bat the Pirates got before the July 30 trade deadline, I'd be good with that.
Ward's 14 HR would rank third on the Pirates. He's a solid right-handed hitter.
The Pirates' team OBP is .300, 26th in MLB. Ward's OBP is .314. That would make him a star in Pittsburgh.
OBP is a problem for the Pirates. Look at some of their regulars:
*SS Oneil Cruz, .305.
*2B Nick Gonzales, .300.
*1B Rowdy Tellez, .295.
*3B Ke'Bryan Hayes, .292.
That's not good enough.
Then you've got below-the-line bums like OF Jack Suwinski at .265, OF Michael A. Taylor at .253 and C Yasmani Grandal at .210. Grandal may handle the pitchers OK, but he can't handle a bat.
So, go get Ward. Get another bat, too.