1:55pm: The Nationals have announced the moves.
12:06pm: The Nationals will activate Ryan Zimmerman from the injured list today and open a spot on the active roster by optioning outfielder Michael A. Taylor to Double-A Harrisburg, Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com reports.
Taylor, 28, has been a fixture on the Nationals’ roster since 2017, when he hit .271/.320/.486 with 19 homers, 23 doubles, three triples and 17 steals in 432 plate appearances. He’d entered that season projected to be a fourth outfielder but wound up logging significant outfield innings when Adam Eaton went down with an ACL tear in April. His followup campaign in 2018, however, saw Taylor bat just .227/.287/.357 in 385 trips to the plate. He did manage a career-best 24 steals in 30 attempts last year.
Despite Bryce Harper’s departure in free agency, a regular spot in the outfield for Taylor hasn’t opened up. Washington has seen vaunted prospects Juan Soto and Victor Robles emerge as productive big leaguers over the past two seasons, and the veteran Eaton is still under contract and controlled through the 2021 season via a pair of club options. Taylor was already in line for a reserve role due to the presence of that trio, but he’s seen his playing time reduced even further by the team’s signing of Gerardo Parra.
The option is of note on many levels for Taylor, who agreed to a $3.25MM salary this offseason in arbitration. He entered 2019 with four years and 10 days of Major League service time, meaning he needed another 162 days at the MLB level to cross the five-year threshold in service time and remain on track for free agency following the 2020 season. Presently, he’s only accrued 91 days of service, so he still needs another 71 days in the Majors to reach that level. There are only 95 days between now and the end of the season, and Taylor will need to stay down for a minimum of 10 days unless he returns in place of an injured player. That creates a real possibility that this optional assignment could push back his free agency by a year. The move will also burn his final minor league option.
Even with his struggles at the plate over the past two seasons, Taylor seems likely to be tendered a contract in the offseason. He’s a well-regarded defensive outfielder who can handle all three spots and offers some of the best speed in the game. His forthcoming arbitration raise won’t be especially large, either, and his excellent 2017 season is not yet that far in the rear-view mirror. As such, the potential delay of his free agency is all the more noteworthy. Taylor has also been a speculative trade asset in the past, and this demotion could prompt some outfield-needy clubs to inquire about his availability (if they haven’t already).
As for Zimmerman, he’ll step back into a lineup that has seen Matt Adams enjoy a recent homer binge while Howie Kendrick has hit well all season long in part-time duty at first base. Brian Dozier has heated up recently as well, further crowding the mix on the right side of the infield. Zimmerman wasn’t hitting well when he was placed on the injured list due to plantar fasciitis in late April, but he was quite productive in 2017-18, so he should give manager Dave Martinez another solid bat to add to the mix.
Is there a Michael B Taylor?
No, but he’s now known as Michael AAA Taylor.
That’s Michael AA Taylor. He got sent to the double A affiliate so he can be reasonably close for a quick call up. The AAA club is on the west coast now. Taylor has great speed and at times phenomenal defense. His bat has been the issue as he has too many holes in his swing that I think are a product of not enough in game ABs and possibly focus issues. If the Nats could get something for him like a bullpen prospect it would be better for both Taylor and the team as I think he is little more than depth for injury concerns now. Problem is, his bat isn’t making him of much value. Someone like the Giants might be a good trade partner
That’s good information. Well done.
But what would the Nats need more right now: a bullpen prospect or a serviceable 4/5 starter who could eat up some innings? Giants have Ty Blach, Derek Holland, and Drew Pomeranz who could come in as a 4 or 5 to chew up innings in a trade for Taylor.
Definitely help in the pen.
i would say almost with certainty that it’s a bullpen arm. 1 thru 4 the Nats are fairly set with Scherzer, Strasburg, Corbin and Sanchez. #5 was Hellickson’s spot, but his injury has not met the original timetable for healing. while they looked to Fedde as the temporary solution and longterm replacement, he has been spotty. Voth has a more consistent and immediate history and as it turns out, is the way the Nats are going currently. The Nationals don’t need to trade for a questionable #5 starter that can not be relied on for certain. there is several of those currently available. what they would like to get and should aim for is a bullpen arm that can throw strikes and keep the ball in the yard and stay healthy. if he has some upside? great.
I would imagine that most of the Giants bullpen is available
Why would they trade a starter who could be good again for a bench outfielder? 4th/5th OF are a dime a dozen, starting pitchers are in demand.
About time. Hard to believe this guy was a highly rated prospect. Guy has a weak arm for a outfielder also.
No, he has a gun.
Not sure what games you’ve seen him play in. He has a very plus arm. His sole downside is his consistent hitting. He’s more of a streaky player too, and not getting regular ABs really hurt him. He’d be a fantastic change of scenery candidate and fully expect he’ll be in a package if Nats buy at the deadline.
There was Michael D Taylor who was an A’s farmhand before this one.
baseball-reference.com/players/t/taylomi01.shtml
There was a different Michael Taylor when he was coming up, that one with in the Phillies system and then played in Oakland.
Chip Caray called him Michael “K” Taylor once.
why did they tender him a contract again?
Because it was relatively cheap?
I think they were hoping he’d return to ’17 form and have good trade value.
When will these writers and their editors (if there are any) learn that there’s no need for comma before the word “either” in the circumstances as seen in this article? Or just learn to not use so many damn commas in general? Write shorter, clearer sentences.
Thought I’d offer a link to a website you might enjoy more than this one…
chicagomanualofstyle.org/home.html
There should be a comma between the words “circumstances” and “as” in your comment. Maybe clean up your own copy before getting on others about theirs.
Imagine being so bored in life going around correcting grammar on the internet.
On a FREE site that provides good information nonetheless…
Wild hacker who could hit a FB down the middle and couldn’t recognize off speed pitches. how many of these have people seen last few years just like this? domonic broiwn, will Middlebrooks.. They last a few weeks.. half season.. maybe have 1 decent year and then stink it up.
I don’t think the service time is all that important for Taylor. I don’t see him getting any more as a FA than he is getting now. In fact, with no more options, he might just be a FA at the end of the season.. He seems like a nice kid. I hope it works out for him.
I think they’ll keep him for around $3m. Think the extra year is definitely a consideration. Impressed mlbtr is actually taking note of it, but it’s Steve writing so not that surprised.
Tight. That’s tight.
Giants should get him. The outfield is a mess.
To contribute to it?
Him, Duggar (when he gets back), Pillar. would make at least a good defensive outfield.
Truth be told the Giants’ OF has arguably been a mess since 2015. They haven’t been able to produce anyone from their own system who has stuck as a regular in many years. I think their best hope now is to reel in one or two solid OF prospects in a Bumgarner trade.
Agreed. I’m also thinking that the lefties in the bullpen can at least be traded for some interesting players for the Giants.
Zaidi will empty that bullpen in the next 6 weeks to restock that farm system. He’ll get a couple of 50’s or a 55-scored prospect for Bumgarner from the right team at the right time. As for the Nats, what do they need more of right now: a bullpen piece who could help now, or a back-end starter who could eat up innings this year? Giants have several of those as well.
Actually,not quite right.A regular with the Giants,yes,but Brian Reynolds with the Pirates has turned into a regular ML outfielder.
We have the former Giants’ front office to thank for him.
He’s a 4 outfielder if you ask me. But the Giants are playing other 4 and 5 outfielders right now.
I am also hoping he can dump a few of the bad salaries or at least do a few salary swap trades, ie Belt, Melancon, Samardzija. Sandoval is a great pinch hitter that can be 1b, 3b, and emergency catcher he can bring in a piece.