Nationals outfielder Michael A. Taylor has been diagnosed with a sprained left knee and hip, manager Dave Martinez tells reporters including Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post (Twitter link). Taylor is expected to “miss a significant amount of time,” per Martinez.
That’s rather unwelcome news for the Nats, who were slated to utilize Taylor quite often to spell the oft-injured Adam Eaton and youngster Victor Robles. With Howie Kendrick also still on the mend, the team now has a yawning gap in its bench mix.
Looking to the 40-man roster, the left-handed-hitting Andrew Stevenson is the only option. He has struggled at the plate in limited MLB opportunities and has not impressed in Grapefruit League action this spring. Hunter Jones is the only non-roster outfielder in camp. The 27-year-old had a nice season last year in the upper minors but has also not produced much offense in spring action. It’s also possible the team could trust Wilmer Difo with some innings on the grass, though he has little experience there and carries a light bat.
It stands to reason that the Nationals will consider outside options, though Taylor’s precise timeline will help dictate the approach. Veteran center fielder Austin Jackson remains unsigned and could potentially step into Taylor’s role. He’s nowhere near the fielder that Taylor is at this stage of his career — in fact, metrics graded him quite poorly last year — but is an amply experienced option who was a productive hitter as recently as 2017. Old friend Denard Span is also on the market, as is Carlos Gonzalez, though both players hit from the left side and neither would really present an option up the middle. The trade market may also present some possibilities, particularly as late-spring roster decisions are made.
Kevin Pillar, come on down
Think you mean Kiermaier
“‘Mr. Rizzo, a Mr. Neander of some team called the Rays on Line #4″……
The situation has Rob Refsnyder written all over it.
DBacks just assigned him to minor league camp. I’m sure he could be had for cheap
would the nationals be willing to give up max for him?
Dbacks would want international money include……
A ‘yawning gap’ pretty much sums it up.
As inconsistent as his bat has been, his glove has been completely the opposite. One of the best defensive center fielders in the game. Hopefully, the youth of Soto and Robles keep them injury-bug free, but Eaton is the more concerning. Jackson does likely make the most sense with his versatility to play all 3 OF positions, but reuniting with Denard Span could also make some sense.
A yawning gap? Boring. Like the Nats.
A injury to a back-up OF, and it’s time to PANIC – MLBTR style!
If only they’d spent $300 million-plus on the legendary Harper. Prepare for the indignant Internet ‘I Told You So’s’ to come out and attack the cheap Nationals ownership that doesn’t want to win.
March 15 and the Nationals season is over.
I think the Nats decided they’d rather sign Corbin and save for a potential Rendon extension than spend $330MM on one player. I wouldn’t call them cheap considering the money they’ve handed out for pitching in the past few years
The only thing cheap about them is the deferrals. Especially if Bryce was right when he said money would still be coming to him into his 60’s.
So is Robles going to be staying up then or do the Nats send him down for a month for another year if service time?
Not sure they can afford to send him down at this point. They need someone to play OF with Taylor and Kendrick hurt
He was already set on the opening day roster when Harper didn’t re-sign. Taylor was going to be the 4th outfielder, not the starting CF.
It would take way longer than a month because he’s been up each of the last two years. And no. He’s playing.
How did Taylor get hurt?
Making a diving catch. His left foot may have gotten caught in the turf.
He needs to make a diving catch in an exhibition game?
ST is supposed to be for players getting their strength up and timing down.
Too many entertainers and too few ballplayers.
Yeah like the timing of making a diving catch to make one of the crucial 27 outs. This comment is the height of get-off-my-lawnism.
“…..to make one of the crucial 27 outs.
An exhibition game in ST has “crucial outs”?
lol
As in “getting the timing down for one of the 27 outs” in a regular season game. Getting that timing happens for guys in spring training. Understand , or is more explanation needed?
At least 80% of balls dived for by OF’s have no impact on the result of one of 162 games.
There have been OF’s on long-term, multi-million dollar contracts that sit out for a season or more because they dove for a ball and injured them-self for no reason. I know of one now. Like crashing into fences, I’ve seen over a hundred OF’s careers truncated and/or ruined by these actions.
Now this is an Internet site of people waiting to be entertained, so I understand the mentality. Rest assured that the Nationals front office and ownership are not pleased about the situation Mr. Taylor has put them in – or the situation Mr. Taylor has put himself in. I’d suspect his career with the Nationals will be over as soon as they can cut ties (they have been extremely supportive of him and his inability to grasp baseball techniques for years). Potential employers will not be rushing to acquire him when the opportunity is there. It was a boneheaded move on his part.
I find it ironic that many people are so concerned with player safety, yet they excuse this injury.
Pitchers need to gear up their fastballs 2-4 MPH to get a hitter out at a critical point in a regular season game. Yet at this point in ST pitchers are actually throwing 2-4 MPH slower as they round into shape – they are not risking their arms overthrowing at a critical point in a meaningless ST game to get their timing down.
Going one step further, this is why the Nationals look great on paper each year, but can’t win a playoff series. Their teams lack discipline and baseball smarts. Bad managers – including the current one. Ownership allows this.
LOLLL
Vandals – please take your rant, crumple it up and never try to explain effort or hustle again. Your argument is the equivalent if a guy gets hit in the face by a pitch during ST you could say why was he batting during a meaningless game or if a guy gets injured during an offseason workout, why was he working out during a non-game day. Injuries are never welcomed by player or team, but they do happen. That doesn’t mean the player should take a play off or play any less than his best. You’ve obviously never played a sport (maybe benchwarmer on JV), so please stick to your injury-less video game sports and don’t comment on a player hustling ever again.
As for your other comments, you’re obviously not a Nats fan, and your knowledge of the Nats front office is hysterical.
@ dcrising,
I’ve watched at least 40 ST games so far.
Have yet to see an OF dive for a ball.
Professionals know when to pick their spots – Pre-Season, In-Season, and Post-Season.
Since you don’t understand that, please share your lectures and condescending barbs with someone else.
You must be watching too many Marlins games
lol
As usual, you’re wrong.
Karma for not pursuing Harper more?
Looks like they should be giving the Cardinals a call. They have a slew of outfielders
I’ll give them Dexter Fowler!!
Now this is interesting……
I read here and on other MLB-related sites about the well – but unfairly – compensated players that “work hard”, make sacrifices, and are dedicated “professionals”.
Heavens, less then 4 weeks into ST and there’s an epidemic of injured players. With all the medical advances, buzzword-dropping trainers, and front office executives, you’d think these players would be in tip-top shape. No one is sliding into them. pitchers are hardly airing it out.
I was watching a ST game the other day. A veteran announcer commented that he had never seen this amount of injuries at this time of year.
Something is terribly wrong.
They probably stopped working out when Bryce and Manny weren’t signed to record breaking contracts by Thanksgiving. This will show those owners!
Nick Williams, Dylan Cozzens, and Vince Velasquez for Max Scherzer. What else are friends and neighbors for?
If you want a Scherzer jersey so bad, your just going to have to settle for a Nats one. Sorry :(
I know it doesn’t happen often, but the Mets have two CF’s who aren’t slated to play a ton. Broxton and Legares are plus defenders. They’d have to trade back money to stay under the tax.
Now THAT makes sense…..
They can get Dickerson from the Pirates for a few prospects. In turn, the Pirates could shave some money off on the roster and sign either Bautista or Carlos Gonzalez to replace him. The Pirates won’t get the same output, but then again, they are assembling a team destined for a #1 draft pick in 2020.
Check with the Padres on Cordero or Margot.
Matt Joyce?
Not a bad idea since he isn’t making the Indians roster.
Dexter Fowler dirt cheap
I agree
He has a full no-trade clause unfortunately
Is there a date for the book signing yet?
Hope Taylor recovers soon, but Robles deserves a bulk of the playing time anyway. For all of the talk about Taylor’s new approach at the plate, he is still striking out in roughly 35% of his ABs. Time to see what Soto and Robles can do in the OF. Youth will be served!!
Teach Kieboom CF in AAA just in case. Just give him a few weeks in case something else happens.