JULY 6: Taylor has landed on the injured list as expected, with utilityman Zach McKinstry reinstated from the IL take his active roster spot. Manager Dave Roberts acknowledged it’s “a safe bet” that Taylor wouldn’t be back before the All-Star Break, but the club hasn’t provided a more specific timetable (via Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times).
JULY 5: Dodgers outfielder Chris Taylor was diagnosed with a fracture in his left foot, he told reporters (including Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register). He’ll likely be placed on the injured list tomorrow; a timetable for his return isn’t yet clear.
Taylor departed last night’s contest against the Rockies in the sixth inning. The club called the issue ankle swelling at the time, but he went for a CT scan this afternoon. The testing revealed the presence of a fracture, an injury which seems likely to cost him a fair bit of time. Los Angeles will surely provide more details on Taylor’s specific diagnosis and recovery outlook over the next few days.
Re-signed to a four-year contract over the offseason, Taylor has again served a key role for manager Dave Roberts. He’s gotten the start for 56 of the club’s 79 games in left field, in addition to seven nods in center and right field apiece. Long noted for his defensive versatility, Taylor has played exclusively in the outfield this season but no doubt still retained the ability to step onto the infield dirt if the club needed.
It hasn’t been a vintage offensive showing for Taylor, who owns a .238/.319/.409 line through 285 plate appearances. He’s still walking at a strong rate and has collected 19 doubles, but he’s struck out at a personal-high 35.4% clip. Nevertheless, Taylor’s five-year track record of solidly above-average offense offered reason to believe he’d bounce back from a down month of June.
It’s the second corner outfield injury in recent weeks for L.A. to navigate. Mookie Betts missed time with a small rib fracture, returning over the weekend. While Roberts suggested Betts could break back in as a second baseman to ease his throwing responsibilities, he’s been pencilled into right field in two of three games since his reinstatement. The Dodgers dealt for Trayce Thompson to platoon with Eddy Alvarez once Betts went down; the club has since selected Jake Lamb (who’s starting in left field tonight) and optioned Alvarez out, but they figure to turn to another platoon arrangement to handle left field in the short term.
Depending on Taylor’s recovery outlook, it’s possible the Dodgers could look to the trade market for a more impactful pickup than Thompson. Ian Happ, Anthony Santander and Andrew Benintendi are among the higher-impact, regular outfielders who could be made available over the coming weeks. There’s also the possibility of a prospect promotion to help fill the void. Miguel Vargas, for instance, is hitting very well with Triple-A Oklahoma City and was floated as a potential alternative once Betts was injured. Vargas, a trade baseman by trade, made a pair of minor league starts in left field recently but otherwise has played exclusively on the infield as a pro.
Dodgers are going to want Corey Dickerson!
Down goes the Rat Man!
Time for Miguel Vargas to get the call up!
I think Sept is more likely here
He is needed even more now. CT3 is gonna be gone for a while Justin Turner and Muncy are not performing.
JT is batting .386 over the past two weeks and Muncy is showing some signs of life. Taylor’s fracture is being described as “small,” so I doubt the Dodgers will be seeking any trades to cover his absence. Their priority this month has to be back end relief pitching.
More likely amaya
I believe he is a SS. They need outfield help.
Chris Taylor, Jeff McNeil, Phil Bickford, Max Muncy, Tyler Anderson, Brandon Walsh, Pete Alonso, Tim Hill, & Josh Hader would make a great All-Mouthbreather lineup. Get well soon, though, Chris!
I don’t think they have to go crazy in the trade market
Jose Q and Jake M from Pitt should be cheap AF and do the job. Jake probably means the end to Hanser but small potatoes. We have lost 2 games the last 3 weeks due to Alvarez and Lux being in the OF late..Marisnek Belli and Betts would be insane late inns
I would rather gamble on the health of May Buehler Trienan Heaney Duffy Kanhle Ferguseon than ship any of the young kids out this year for a Castillo or Montas. Their best bets probably lie on the infirmary table right now
C’mon Cap! I was hoping for your endorsement of Dickerson.
The Pirates aren’t going to just give Quintana away this trade deadline. He’s been a quality pitcher, his performance last night against the Yankees is evidence and increased his value substantially
Dodgers trade for Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon, give up a little bit in prospects but take on a bunch of the remaining cash. Rendon takes over for Turner next season
This would be funny, but they’d still find a way to lose.
The dodgers are the best ran franchise in baseball and it’s not even close. The way they draft, develop, and turn scraps into all stars is impressive. You look silly acting like the Dodgers always lose.
Did I say always? I’m referring to the playoffs, bud.
They’ve made the World Series three of the last five seasons and have a ring
Pretty ridiculous to pretend they don’t know how to win a playoff game…
Please don’t feed the trolls.
Every full season ends in failure. Looking forward to it.
Don’t feed the corporate pundits either.
🙂
Does anyone really think a title in 2020 means anything? Whichever team had the most depth (and luck in terms of health), was going to win.
2020 was an extremely difficult post-season, probably the most arduous in history. Kudos to the Dodgers for winning it all.
Why would anyone want that injury prone bust rendon sucks
Nothing about how he did it?
Guess this means more OF duty for Mookie right away.
Foul ball
Why does MLBTR not mention how an injury occurs?
@thunderroad19
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Chris Taylor will be placed on the injured list on Wednesday after a CT scan revealed a fracture in his left foot, according to Fabian Ardaya. Taylor, 31 years old, seemed to suffer the injury when he fouled a ball off his foot on Saturday.
The missing part….
So that’s Albies & Taylor that have sustained a fracture by fouling it off their foot.
Benintendi is an on-base machine right now, and he is not under contract for next year. Call JJ Picollo.
Merrifield and Barlow are also available and could really help the Dodgers.
Suffered the agony of defeet.
An arch enemy.
Gee, without Taylor who is going to strikeout every other time at bat for the Dodgers?
On a serious note, the injury bug is biting the Dodgers hard this season
Let’s hope Trayce doesn’t start flailing again
To be honest, Taylor could use a little bit of a break (no pun intended). He’s had a rough few weeks at the plate.
Lux, Belli, Betts in the OF.
JT, Trea, Muncy, and Freeman on the infield.
They can mix and match with Lamb and Thompson. Rotate DH as needed. They’ll be fine until CT3 and Rios get back.
CT has always been a very streaky hitter, and he’s been stone cold lately. Hard to replace defensively though.
The x-ray didn’t work so a CT scan was needed to confirm that he was still Chris Taylor.
C(hris) T(aylor) scan huh?
He reminds me of a young Bruce Dern.
How about Brandon Drury? Versatile and having a good year
Not sure what role there is for a guy who is a “trade baseman by trade.”
I think a trade baseman is the guy on the grounds crew who pulls out the old base between innings and puts a new one in.
So apparently Vargas has another skill to fall back on if playing baseball doesn’t work out.
I think we’re going to be okay, but Taylor can anywhere you ask him. But if they want to trade for a left fielder. There’s one in KC that’s having a heck of a year named Andrew B. Just saying.
A trade baseman?? Lol proofread.. you are better then that