Free agent center fielder Michael A. Taylor is drawing interest from the Angels, Padres and Pirates, reports Robert Murray of FanSided. Murray adds that the Halos are also considering Adam Duvall as a free agent outfield target.
Taylor should have the broader market of the two veterans. His ability to play an excellent center field makes him a strong fit on a number of teams. He could operate as a glove-first regular for clubs without a strong in-house option in center or serve as a high-end fourth outfield target for others. The Dodgers, Reds, Blue Jays, Red Sox and Mets have also been linked to Taylor earlier in the offseason. Toronto and New York subsequently signed Kevin Kiermaier and Harrison Bader, respectively, likely taking them out of the mix.
Boston acquired Tyler O’Neill as a right-handed hitter with the ability to play anywhere in the outfield. That could reduce their urgency on Taylor, but Murray suggests they’re still involved. He adds that a return to the Twins, with whom Taylor spent the 2023 campaign, also remains a possibility.
For teams that aren’t going to entertain a run at Cody Bellinger, Taylor is the top center fielder on the open market. He remains a high-end defender even as he enters his age-33 season. Taylor has been a below-average hitter for the bulk of his career, but he’s coming off one of his better offensive showings. He popped a career-best 21 home runs in just 388 plate appearances. Taylor still struck out in more than a third of his plate appearances and hit .220 with a meager .278 on-base percentage. Yet the defense and the ability to run into 15-20 homers while hitting in the bottom third of a lineup makes him a serviceable regular.
The Angels have a projected outfield of Taylor Ward, Mike Trout and Mickey Moniak. Ward missed the final couple months of last year after sustaining facial fractures on a frightening hit-by-pitch. Trout hasn’t reached 120 games or 500 plate appearances in a season since 2019 because of various injuries. Moniak posted solid bottom line results last year, hitting .280/.307/.495 through 323 plate appearances. However, that came with a 35% strikeout rate and a 2% walk percentage that are even worse than Taylor’s career baselines.
Moniak is a clear regression candidate who is better suited in a fourth outfield capacity. Even if the Halos are optimistic about his ability to produce against right-handed pitching, the former #1 overall pick has a .172/.200/.230 slash in 91 career plate appearances versus lefties. The righty-hitting Taylor has been better against southpaws than against right-handed pitching, as one would expect. Since the start of 2020, he’s a .257/.317/.455 hitter with the platoon advantage.
Duvall also hits from the right side. While he has had reverse platoon splits in recent years, he’s a better overall offensive player than either Moniak or Taylor — albeit with a similar low-OBP, power profile. He hit 21 homers in 353 plate appearances for the Red Sox last season, running a .247/.303/.531 slash. Duvall can play some center field but is better suited for a corner spot entering his age-35 season.
As for the other clubs recently linked to Taylor, each of Pittsburgh, San Diego and Minnesota are viable fits. The Padres need to bring in multiple outfielders after trading Juan Soto and Trent Grisham. They’d seemingly prefer to keep Fernando Tatis Jr. in right field rather than moving him up the middle. José Azocar (a career .249/.292/.341 hitter) and prospect Jakob Marsee are the top internal options in a center field position that requires an outside pickup.
Minnesota leaned heavily on Taylor last year as knee injuries kept Byron Buxton to designated hitter. While the Twins have expressed hope that Buxton could handle outfield work again in 2024, they can’t count on him to make 120+ starts at the position.
The Pirates could turn center field back to Jack Suwinski, although public metrics were mixed on his defensive performance. Bryan Reynolds can handle center on occasions but fits best in left. Right field is a question mark, with trade pickup Edward Olivares likely battling Joshua Palacios for work. Andrew McCutchen will see the majority of his time at designated hitter while rotating through the corners. Signing Taylor could allow the Bucs to kick Suwinski to right field and boast a strong defensive outfield.
Kiermaier and Bader each signed one-year pacts worth $10.5MM. Taylor could be in line for something similar, although it wouldn’t be a surprise if he landed a two-year deal at a lower annual value but a slightly better overall guarantee.
I think he’d be a nice add for the Padres.
I typed out a post but I guess didn’t hit the button.
I see a Carp deal coming – 1 year at 6.5 with a player option for 6.5.
Too low imo. Taylor is pretty legit. I mean, Bader went for $10.5M, and Taylor looks a good bit better than him.
Could be. I haven’t done a dine a deep dive.
Just going by the last lines of the post as a guide suggesting less than Bader but maybe 2 year lower AAV more guaranteed.
Taylor is a more expensive version of Grisham. Your numbers are pretty close to what other outlets have predicted. Not a good fit for Padres.
Must be a typo. It doesn’t say the “Yankees are interested” per usual reports.
And/or the Cardinals
Makes perfect sense for the Pirates as a platoon mate/defensive replacement for Suwinski.
Wait! I thought the Red Sox were “interested?” They’re interested in everyone else!
Good CF might be a little bigger bat than Grish.
His career numbers (OPS+ 83) aren’t statistically better than Grish (OPS+ 95), they’re worse. As for bigger bat, Grish has much higher HR/AB rate. And both guys are in the 215-200 BA range for careers.
I bet he gets 2 years in this market.
My God, the Angels are gonna be terrible, and relatively expensive-Arte sell the team, let new ownership rebuild
The angels will be outbid by the pirates, I will be surprised if the angels sign any more players unless they make trades.
I really hope they’re outbid, cause this is freaking terrible and incredibly boring.
This owner is so predictable bad signings and band-Aid players all the time!! he’s in fragile mode signing right now once Rendón leaves he could start fresh again but please no more Band-Aid players like Taylor!
Trout
Moniak
Ward
Adell ( let me fly or crash)
Put the rookie 1st baseman schanuel in the outfield and at first dury and Refugio in 2nd base or resign Moustakas at first way, better signing and Taylor !
Or sign Puig or Solaire!
I will be fine if they sign a depth third baseman. They need someone to cover rendon.
Rengifo covers for Rendon. Rengifo might be able to play third…he can’t play short or second.
just what the Bucs need, another hitter who has almost twice as many strikeouts than hits and can barely bat his weight
78 hits last year vs 130 ks is pathetic
He also has a terrific glove and some pop. He’s a useful guy even though he, like almost every player ever, has significant weaknesses.
His entire value comes from his defense. The Angels had one of these players last year. He was in AAA in May.
Typical Minasian move. He never learns.
Who is this player you are talking about?
Defense matters.
Brett Philips
Phillips cant hit. Taylor can.
No he can’t!!
Phillips sucks good team player but not to help a team out in offense just another Band-Aid
Taylor is the same but more expensive.
Taylor is a good player. Look it up.
No he’s not. Last year was his peak wRC+ at 96.
The AL West is not the Central. His wRC+ before that was, 71, 74, 76, 75, 89.
His value comes from his defense. And the Angels have three other outfielders that they need to play, just to see what they have.
Value is value. His defense is really good.
If the Angels don’t need him fine. But Taylor is a good player.
His defense is good, and if that was the one piece the Angels needed, then I’d be for it.
But the Angels have to see what they have in Ward, Moniak, and Adell. And. Trout is going to get the majority of CF ABs, so there isn’t the need. This is not the right team for a Gary Pettis type player.
On the right team, Gary Pettis was a very useful player….this isn’t the right team.
A superior CF is a great asset, and the last 2 years his OPS+ is 92, not great but I’ll take that with his D. Also improves RF by moving Suwinski there, platoon with Olivares or others.
In the Central, which is almost a AAAAA division. Not quite major leagues.
Where does he even fit on the Pirates?
Their 40 man already includes
Joe
Olivares
Palacios
Reynolds
Njigba
Suwinski
Cutch
I know Cutch will likely be a DH only but he can still play the field if needed. I suppose the “talk” of making Davis a full time catcher would open another spot. So many players that can play OF like Bae.
Between this idea and them evidently interested in a Santana reunion I’m not sure what BC has cooking
I don’t want Santana back Also most of the outfielders besides suwinski and reynolds are reserves. And suwinski maybe more of a dh/ of type. I would love to put money towards hoskins
This would make Connor Joe the odd man out. His arbitration number is supposed to be $2 million, I don’t see him staying if a deal is made for Taylor and Santana
Suwinski seems to be able to run and catch a ball so why would he be a dh? I don’t expect much from can. Looks like dfa. Palacios better but can go if needed. Joe seems like a safe bet to stick unless they get trade return.
The only thing I can say in support is that Taylor is a defined OF. Most of the guys listed there are utility players at best and frankly below average at most positions. It’s time in this current rebuild to start narrowing things down and packaging the excess for other needs. Take 2-3 of the guys vying for the OF and 2B jobs and turn them into a solid middle reliever for example.
I’m all for this idea.
So tired of the Pirates mentality of players needing to play as many positions as possible. I don’t know how you expect a guy like Davis to come up and learn how to play OF all while still trying to figure out the pitching.
Let them stick to a position and develop all around. Their approach like taking a center in the nba and asking him to be a lock down point guard that can hit the 3.
I’d like to think they’d tradw some of that excess, a middle infielder and a projectable A+ pitcher like Harrington or Kennedy for a quality SP with a few years control. I have to think hes trying to make deal.
I definitely want Trout in a corner spot but we still need some semblance of a bat in center.
At this stage either go Bellinger or get a Teoscar Hernandez type for right and keep Trout in center.
Bellinger would be a stupid move.
This is not the right year to move Trout out of center. The Angels need to make building block moves, not band-aide moves. And thinking Bellinger is that building block is flat out foolish.
The building blocks need to be added on the mound.
A 27 year old with a great glove and career OPS+ of 120 even including his two injury years is not a band aid.
Trout’s defense and health aren’t going to improve with age.
Pitchers look a lot better with good defenses behind them.
As always, there’s a price point where Belli stops making sense. But considering age, defensive improvement, and offensive profile he’d make a great fit.
For how much he’s going to be, based on last year.
The prior three years…wRC+.
112, 47, 83.
At that price, even 134 isn’t a buy, and that 134 ain’t gonna happen again.
The three years before Rendon came here his wRC+ was
140, 141, 155. Rendon was a much much better bet than Bellinger.
It would be a dumb signing.
Rendon was much older than Bellinger, who had a legitimate injury to justify his poor year and a half.
A fully healthy 27 year old is a far cry from Rendon.
It would be a huge mistake. Last year was a fluke and it wasn’t even that good of a year.
His fWAR was 4.1.
Padres need lefty hitters. They are a perfect fit for Bellinger except they don’t want to spend that kind of money.
Padres already traded the best lefty hitter they had when they dealt Soto to NYY.
Yeah I understood the trade because of the financial element but it left both teams needing what they traded away.
Pads also traded another lefty hitter and CF in Grisham, who’s defense is as good or better than Taylor, and so is his bat even.
@Brew that’s exactly what I don’t get about the rumors of them signing someone like Taylor or before that Bader. If they’re going to move on from a CF who doesn’t hit well that costs $5M, I don’t understand why you would go to a guy who costs like $10M and also doesn’t hit well
Yep 100%
Angels chasing Center Fielders either means they finally realize Trout would be better off in a corner or they are preparing early for when he spends half to three quarters of the season on the IL
Trout and Rendon must platoon DH or they won’t survive the 1st month. I want to explode every time I read about the Angels looking at DH types. They need tons of Pitching and a LH power bat. If not they should just cash in the next year!
The Padres trading Grisham to get rid of his salary and then signing someone like Taylor for $10m is exactly the type of move I’d expect from that front office. Talk about spinning your wheels.
My guess is if his price reaches 10m the padres will be out.
Looking more and more like Marsee season.
Why would the Padres want to replace Grisham with an older and more expensive Grisham?
I guess the “sportswriters”, meaning bloggers, need to keep their names in the news.
Because Preller.
Because Murray.
Preller is not interested in Taylor. That makes zero sense at all and one thing Preller is not is stupid.
Why would the Padres want to replace Grisham with an older and more expensive Grisham?
==================
Grisham is already gone. So the question at hand is, who plays CF?
Marsee or someone better than or cheaper than Taylor?
Crazy how fast Anaheim has already moved on from Ohtani and San Diego has already moved on from Soto.
Good lort… I really hope this isn’t what the Angels are planning!! This is so boring I’m falling asleep!!
from the pirates point of view. No way.
If you want a defensive center fielder put Bae there everyday His ability will do well once he learns it better. Also has a decent ceiling for the offense that should be around or better than Taylor.
pirates have other options and they need offense. Taylor doesn’t bring the offense.
Michael A. Taylor could be an option for a team with a desperate need for a starting CF. Given a full season, he’ll put together a 2 WAR campaign which is just good enough to justify an every day role for a free agent.
Spotrac set his value at 2yrs $14.4MM. Seems about right to me.
Puts him best fitting onto lower budget team looking to compete for a playoff spot with no good center field option or a medium/high budget team looking for a backup for a great center fielder and a defense first 4th outfielder.
The biggest issue with Taylor, IMHO, is his age and potential decline in speed. Taylor featured elite speed prior to 2020, and he’s maintained steady “plus” speed after that, but he’s now close to his mid 30s. If Taylor loses a step, he’s no longer a viable every day center fielder on a playoff caliber team.
Angels lose with him or without. He would not sign with the team anyway.
I wouldn’t mind a reunion with the Twins. We need CF insurance for Buxton every year, why not sign the guy who did a great job basically playing CF full time for us last year?
If the Twins are cutting front office employees to save money, a $8MMish back up, defense only, center fielder feels like a huge luxury.
Teoscar Hernandez would make sense for the Angels but not Michael Taylor. Might as well resign Randal Grichuk.
Red Sox could use a ninth outfielder. Just to be sure.
Any outfielders available from Japan or Korea?
MLB is out of available talent.
Pittsburgh should contact Boston about a Reynolds trade…we could return 2 solid OF and a solid Arm and solid SS or 2b…all young and controlled which fits their no/low spend. We have Abreu, Refsnyder, Romero or Yorke and Mata should be a Pit win