The Nationals have avoided arbitration with outfielder Michael A. Taylor, as per reporter Robert Murray (Twitter link). Taylor will make $3.325MM in guaranteed money next season, slightly above the $3.25MM projected by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz. Taylor can also make another $25K in bonuses should he reach 300 PA for the Nats next season.
Seen as a top-60 prospect headed into the 2015 season, Taylor has shown some flashes of potential (particularly during an impressive 2017 season) but has struggled to lock down anything beyond a fourth outfield role. Taylor has hit only .240/.294/.393 over 1705 career plate appearances, and the end of his tenure in Washington seemed to be looming in the summer when he was optioned to the minors for over two months.
However, 2019 ended on a great note for both Taylor and the Nationals, as the outfielder re-emerged to make a big contribution to the club’s World Series run. Taylor had a 1.010 OPS over 23 postseason plate appearances, including the solo homer that the Nats on the board in their 3-1 win over the Cardinals in Game Two of the NLCS.
Taylor still offers value to Washington as a fourth outfielder capable of solid glovework at all three positions, as well as elite speed. Taylor turns 29 in March but is still controllable through the 2021 season in his fourth and final year of arbitration. This fourth year arose as a result of his lengthy demotion, as Taylor finished the 2019 season with only four years and 129 days of service time.
Trea Turner, Roenis Elias, and Joe Ross are the three remaining arb-eligible Nationals who have yet to reach agreements with the team prior to tomorrow’s 11am CT deadline for exchanging arbitration figures. You can follow along with all of the arb dealings on the MLBTR Arbitration Tracker.
Why is the dudes name Michael A.? I’ve never figured that out
To confuse you…. Looks like it’s working.
There was another Michael Taylor in the league when he broke in
His middle name is Anthony. Earlier in the decade there was another Michael Taylor.
Because when he came up their was another Michael Taylor in the lBigs who was prominent enough to require a way to tell them apart.
That’s why I refer to him as the “Say A Kid”
every time i see this guys name i just see the clip of him slamming his glove down when the ball was still in play. lol
That was Nyjer Morgan.
No, that was Tony Plush. Nyjer never made an error in his life.
Are you sure you’re not thinking of Nyjer Morgan?
they are one
Its funny, Michael A is actually in the Rendon mold when it comes to showing emotion.
I wished he was DFA. He would be awesome in Comerica Park or Fenway, the only places that weren’t made for homerun derby.
Park size doesn’t matter when you strike out.
He’d be verbally brutalized by the crowd in Fenway.
Crazy speed. Love watching guys like him on the base paths.
and in the outfield
Michael A. Taylor. AKA little Chris Rock