The Dodgers announced that outfielder Chris Taylor has been released, in order to open up roster space for Tommy Edman’s activation from the 10-day injured list. Edman returns after missing a little more than two weeks due to ankle inflammation, but the bigger headline is the end of Taylor’s nine-year run in Dodger Blue.
The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya initially reported that Taylor had been designated for assignment, and Ardaya and several other members of the Dodgers beat noted that Taylor didn’t have a locker in the team’s clubhouse today, but the transaction was a straight release, rather than what might’ve been a token stay for Taylor in DFA limbo. Since obviously no team was going to claim Taylor off waivers and take on the remainder of his salary, the Dodgers instead chose to just cut ties more promptly.
Taylor came to the Dodgers back in June 2016, as the return in an under-the-radar trade that sent Zach Lee to the Mariners. Taylor was a useful utility infield piece for L.A. over the remainder of that season, but the full breakout didn’t come until the next season, when Taylor suddenly hit .288/.354/.496 with 21 homers over 568 regular-season plate appearances, and then won NLCS MVP honors to help the Dodgers reach the World Series. He went onto deliver solidly above-average numbers through the 2021 season, and then re-signed with the team on a four-year, $60MM free agent deal that also includes a $12MM club option (and $4MM buyout) for 2026.
Things weren’t the same after that big long-term deal was inked. Taylor hit .265/.343/.461 over 2382 PA from 2017-21, but that production plummeted to a .222/.307/.369 slash line over 1119 PA since Opening Day 2022. A decrease in playing time naturally followed, and by this season, Taylor had become a sparingly used bench piece on the star-studded Los Angeles roster, appearing in 28 games but with only 35 trips to the plate.
While his struggles over the last few seasons have marred the end of his Dodgers tenure, Taylor (who turns 35 in August) has unquestionably been a big figure in the team’s success over the last decade. Taylor became something of a poster child for the Dodgers’ ability for getting great results out of previously unheralded players, and his ability to play all over the diamond made him a valuable utility option. Taylor has made at least 174 MLB appearances as a shortstop, second baseman, left fielder, and center fielder, plus he has also logged plenty of time in right field and at third base. His NLCS MVP award and two World Series rings were the highlights of a postseason career that saw Taylor bat .247/.351/.441 over 266 playoff plate appearances.
There is some irony that Taylor’s release came at the same time as Edman’s return from the IL, as Edman has essentially taken over Taylor’s old role as a multi-position threat. With Enrique Hernandez, Miguel Rojas, and the newly-signed Hyeseong Kim now all getting more playing time or taking up room on the bench, the Dodgers decided it was time to move on from Taylor entirely.
Los Angeles owes Taylor the remainder of his $13MM salary for 2025 (roughly $9.55MM still to go), as well as the $4MM buyout of his 2026 option. If another team signs Taylor, that club will owe him only the prorated MLB minimum salary for any time he spends on their active roster. That sum will be subtracted from the remainder of the money the Dodgers owe to Taylor.
Mercy DFA
Lucky to have lasted that long. He has stunk for a while.
This is more about the emergence of Dalton Rushing and Hyeseong Kim than anything else. Those two make the Dodgers both better and more exciting. CT still is decent defensively and versatile. He can be a 23rd man for some other team if he wants.
Agreed. It was a good problem to have. Dodgers value optionality but if the AAA depth is better than the MLB bench depth you upgrade.
Still early on Rushing and maybe even for Kim, but the quality ABs that they have provide in the short sample give you the confidence that they’re indeed upgrades and potentially significant upgrades. Congrats to those two for sticking with the MLB roster.
No mercy. No prisoners.
The best path to winning vs sentimentality is a hard choice for any team that has respect for their players. Christ Taylor deserves all of the respect, but it was time. 😢 we will miss you Chirs, thank you for everything.
They needed to sweep the leg on him a long time ago
Interesting. The Dodgers’ self-proclaimed loyalty to longtime employees has always been cynical and selective. That said, many Dodgers fans think that on merit this is overdue, and they are probably right.
Self-proclaimed loyalty? What, exactly, are you referencing?
Just another one of his self-proclaimed conspiracy theories.
@Vegas: Oh, I suppose my wording was imprecise. The Dodgers have always promoted themselves as a big happy family (except when Campanis and Lasorda threw Glenn Burke out of the family), and over-celebrated some of their players with an unctuous excessiveness–from Koufax to Valenzuela to Nomo and so on, including even that media mediocrity Vin Scully–one writer wonderfully referred to Scully as “the piano player in the whorehouse that is Dodger-dum.” That said, I agree with some here that it is time to say goodbye to Chris Taylor, and am not at all sure he will find another taker at this point.
Loyalty is why they put up with him no longer contributing for so long, but at this point the Dodgers need value from their bench and him and barnes and outman are not it.
Don’t hold back tell us how you really feel.
Yes they do need value cuz here come the Cubs! Cubs will be the best team in the NL by year-end. Just watch.
What in the Wide Wide World of Sports are you talking about??? 🤔
someone hates the team damn. OMalleys were ruthless but every team has a business to run. over celebrated? like virtually every team in the league you mean? those names you mention w Vin resonate in the lives and families of virtually every Angeleno. sure you hate LA and its citizens as well.
“including even that media mediocrity Vin Scully–one writer wonderfully referred to Scully as “the piano player in the whorehouse that is Dodger-dum”
I can typically decipher most anything I read on this wacky thing we call the internet. But you got me with the above. lol
Vin Scully was “media mediocrity.” You lose any potential credibility with that statement.
Vin Scully was a mediocre voice of the Dodgers just like Frank Sinatra was an average singer. I’ve seen a lot of crap on MLBTR but this take may require the most toilet paper of them all.
Did you just say something against Vin? Are you an idiot? Do you have no taste? Maybe you are deaf.
Yeah, I’ll fight anyone that disparages the greatest broadcaster of all time. I have Vin’s back for the rest of my life.
RIP slim Pickens
I’m not even a Dodger fan. You’re absolutely out of your mind if you think Vin Scully was “mediocre.” Furthermore, you need to provide a source for that alleged quote about Scully, because I can’t find one. Even if it’s a legitimate quote, it’s clearly from someone jealous of Scully’s talent.
That quote is obviously a made-up variation on something Harry Truman once said. The only person in baseball who I ever heard say a single, bad word about Vin was Mike Piazza — and he was basically a jerk on wheels.
Jeff Kent had something against Vin also. So not too bummed he has been denied the HOF.
Good memory. Kent was another notorious crank, but in this case he was just making a crack. Piazza put a crazy story about something Vin supposedly said in a book that left Vin dumbfounded.
@nukeg Er, after his voice went, meaning for much of his career, Sinatra was indeed a mediocrity.
Early on he had an extraordinary voice, but it wasn’t long before he had little left beyond a reputation and too many fans who couldn’t tell the difference.
Pointing to the psychopath who slaughtered 200,000 civilians when Japan was days from surrender, solely in order to ‘send a message’ to Russia?
Truly dismal form.
I may have never seen a worse take about baseball or anything than I just saw now.
Loyalty carried him this far—he’s been too lame the past few years to deserve any more of it. If anything, that loyalty is the only reason he lasted as long as he did.
@amjr. I was about to say almost the same thing. Taylor was plucked from obscurity to become a fixture on one of baseball’s best teams for nearly nine years. I doubt the player is complaining about the Dodgers’ loyalty to him.
Happy trails, CT3. Hope you get a chance to make a comeback somewhere.
This comment you made…. makes no sense. Good job.
They gave him a $45 mil contract that he will be paid every cent of. Plus the Dodgers made sure he got his ten years in so that his pension was fully vested. That is an insane amount of loyalty for dude that hasn’t played MLB quality baseball for 3 years.
They are still claiming Toles, so there is that.
Seems like they are looking to replace muncy next
They’ve kept Toles under contract so he has access to healthcare. It was a great gesture of support. Would any other team do this?
Alan53, you said the White Sox will win 2 out of 3 against the Cubs this weekend. Why do you have to double-down and make yourself look bad again?
Finally!!!!!!!!
Change of scenery may help.
Only if the change is from MLB to MiLB
Angels. Send Paris to AAA to work on CF and get some needed at bats. Work on hitting off-speed. Taylor would be a great veteran presence. But this makes too much sense for it to actually happen.
So I guess kim is staying. Figured that was the plan all along, and they can ease him in
Kim has been a good hitter, but as far as his defense, he needs a LOT more work, especially in the OUTFIELD.. He’s way too short, doesn’t have the knowledge of “tracking the ball” & can’t reach the high balls at the wall. His infield also is lacking..he has had several errors at second base as well, so he definitely needs a LOT of work!!
What does one do to improve their height? I doubt lifts would satisfy you.
@stymeeddone. Platforms and a booster seat is a start. I’m joking with you, but the other poster didn’t get the ease in part. It’s only been a month maybe less. He’s been the best defender in the kbo he didn’t forget how to use his glove, and He’s probably not shorter than Altuve.
I think ultimately the plan is to have Kim at 2nd, and Edman in center. Dave Roberts has said on more than one occasion that he believes Kim to be as good defensively at 2nd as anyone he’s seen in a long time.
Mr. Crane, I have to ask you, is this individual a better fit than Brendan Rogers or Chas McCormick?
Man, not to say it wasn’t deserved, but CT3 not being a Dodger just feels weird. Hope he’s still got some juice in the tank and gets a shot elsewhere.
Same with Austin Barnes. I get it, they have better utility guys/back-up catching options, but it’s odd to see guys who were roster staples for the better part of a decade, if not longer like in Barnes’ case, leave them, esepcially considering how key they were at times throughout the last handful of years for the Dodgers.
They tried to trade Jackie Robinson to the Giants. What else do you need to know?
The time sadly came for both of them. Barnes and Taylor turn 36 and 35 thus year. The Dodgers need to fold in more youth.
He’ll surely get another shot somewhere, if he wants it, especially if he’s willing to show some gas in AAA.
That is some good news. No way they were going to send Kim down and keep Taylor.
Long time coming, once it happened to Barnes I knew CT wouldnt be far off. I’ll miss him, but it was the right decision.
Plenty of teams could use CT, especially for his defense. And he’s done better at the plate this year so far even thought there’s too much swing and miss. He had some good years in LA.
I don’t think anyone will claim him with that salary though. Maybe a trade if the Dodgers eat some of it.
I’m not sure he can be traded… 10 and 5 rights. He will probably take the Dodgers $ and try and catch on with another team. Someone like the White Sox could use him and if he does decent, flip him at the deadline. Who knows, Yankees might need a 3B.
He doesn’t have 10/5 rights yet. He gets them in August.
They… cut… him….
@dodgers. He might not being going to far the angels can use him over Anderson.
You really think he’s an upgrade over Anderson, though? Been trending downwards at about the same pace.
How does Taylor have a trend with only 30+ AB’s? Pro-rated league minimum makes it a no-brainer. Maybe someone better help the Angels with the math…
@kellin. Only because his avg is 20 points higher, but its grasping at straws. I just think Andersons time is coming to end as well.
@empire fair point on prorated minimum.
Arte is penny pinching, so who knows if this will happen. Arte spends, but only if it doesn’t mean he’ll lose money at the end of his short sightedness.
His defense now is at best average, by Statcast, nowhere near good enough to carry his bat, v 2024-25.
CT will land a job with the Dodgers footing most if not all of the bill
They were covering the bill anyway, and he was just taking up a roster spot without producing. At least now his replacement will actually contribute.
I stand corrected
“the transaction was a straight release, rather than what might’ve been a token stay for Taylor in DFA limbo. Since obviously no team was going to claim Taylor off waivers and take on the remainder of his salary, the Dodgers instead chose to just cut ties more promptly.”
Selling Dodger Dogs
Kershaw and Kike Hernandez (who already left the team for a bit) are now the last remaining players from that first pennant-winning team in 2017.
If this is the end of the line for Taylor I don’t think he’ll have any regrets… he was a solid player for a decade, got two rings, and earned more than $70M. Pretty nice career.
More money than he probably deserved. Dodgers treated him well.
I wonder if Muncy is starting to get nervous.
Think they’re going to give him a bit more leash, considering the upside he brings. But yeah, DFA is hardly out of the question at some point.
No chance for him. He’s starting to heat up
Muncy’s had a .959 OPS the last 9 games, and struck out only 5 times in that span (with 5 walks). He also has 0.8 WAR for the season, despite his early struggles he’s been still somewhat valuable.
He’s finally heating up.
Over 10 years with LA from Seattle for Zack Lee! Another great Dodger trade. What a steal.
Nice run.
If Rushing keeps hitting Conforto might be next.
They need to keep Rushing regardless since they DFA’d Barnes. Conforto might be next regardless though when Teoscar comes back. It would be ridiculous to send Kim down. Shoot, I’d rather see an inexperienced Kim in LF than Conforto
Rushing is their backup catcher now, has nothing to do with Conforto or outfielders.
By keep hitting I mean enough were b/u C ab’s aren’t enough.
Sad to see him go. The bat has really cratered but he’s still decent on the basepaths and a good Swiss army knife on the field. Hopefully he gets a shot somewhere else.
Still a better hitter than Harris, but can’t say yes to the switch due to defense. I’ll take him over Albies and have him play 2nd though any day of the week.
CT looked good in Dodger Blue. He will seem odd in another uniform.
It is a page turning for a long time friend.
34 years old and 10 seasons as a Dodger, mainly as a Swiss army knife. Quite a tenure.
So more horrendous contracts on that team. Their payroll is so inflated because they’re paying bad players big sums of money. It’s rich for the sake of being rich.
As opposed to what most teams do: pay worse players not quite as big sums of money.
Taylor just got DFA… he’s horrible. Many many many many many many players make less than him that are beyond better of players.
He just finished his 4-year contract and he’s getting released. Get a grip, kc38.
Yeah if only the league followed your Royals model more cloely
Bring him home, Dipoto! (Don’t actually)
I would take him over Mastrobuoni or Solano.
Saw this coming for weeks, he’s been clearly supplanted by guys like Kim and just doesn’t hit anymore. Still I hope Dodgers fans will join me in paying tribute to him, his defense and some clutch hits helped them down the stretch for multiple seasons and that trade will always be such a steal (sorry Ms fans). And he did get paid well for it so don’t feel too sad either
Access to two roster upgrades & insider trade secrets of our nemesis?!!?
Right at our preferred sticker price?!!?
AJ Preller, you’d better be on the phone!!!!
lol sign away. You’ll pretty quickly regret it when you realize he’s worthless. The only trade secrets he’s privy to are “sign big and develop smart”
He may be an upgrade over Jason Hayward though.
CT didnt get much of a chance to do anything this season. I understand the DFA, just stings when he got almost no playing time to turn things around. In the meantime, Muncy stinks on D and cant bat his weight but is out there every day.
I imagine CT will opt for FA and the Dodgers will pay for him to play for another team. Wish him the best, he did a lot for the Dodgers.
CT has had years to prove what he can do lol.
He had MULTIPLE seasons to improve and get better
He sucked last year too. ALL year. In fact he sucked ever since they opted to sign him and let Kike walk a few years ago
Being released means being a FA isn’t a choice, and neither is staying with the Dodgers. I see the Yankees in his future.
Long overdue! Should have happened years ago.
Muncy is next. I don’t care how well he’s been playing lately.
He had like two good games. I’d rather see Davey at 3B than Muncy at this point
Muncy has been hitting better lately and is by far their best option at third. I’m tired of these impatient takes about someone who unlike Taylor still has value and doesn’t have clearly better options behind him. Now by next year perhaps Freeland could be looked at to overtake him (or they make a trade) but he’s doing better he’s solid defensively and they don’t have a bunch of 3B banging on the door.
That’s one heck of a run. He’s been a Dodger for a long time, but he’s been horrendous for a while…
Through all the noise here, I’d just like say “Thank you, Chris Taylor for giving it your all & for the special moments you delivered while with the Dodgers. All the best going forward.”
HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now to just mercifully end the Conforto experiment
The Baseball Gods are with us today, Dodger fans
Figured they were waiting for him to reach his 10 years of service. This needed to be done like yesterday. Oh well, better late than never….
Gotta let the remaining members from 2016-2019 go at some point.
Isn’t it just Kershaw at this point?
Yeah, plus Muncy and Roberts.
By my calculations he’s about 70ish days away from the 10 year service mark. Here’s hoping someone picks him up.
He’s making 13 million this season. He’ll be fine.
Versatile guy in his prime. Such is life as an MLB player. Just need 1 more year to get that lifetime pension.
“In his prime”??????????????????
@semut
2017 to 2021.
First Barnes, now CT … for a championship team, the Dodgers are making moves like a rebuilding franchise – next gone will be Hernandez and Smith will be dealt so Rushing can take over. Biggest needs will be a third basemen and a corner outfielder.
LOL take. Will Smith is signed as long as Ohtani. For teams that hold on to past glory to long, look no further then the LA Lakers or Golden State Warriors. Loyalty has made them mediocre. You either evolve or get left behind.
yeah releasing guys hitting .200 and .214 w a combined 4 rbis is a huge rebuild
After he clears waivers, the Yankees should sign him to play 3B.
This will always be one heck of a catch that saves the day for the dodgers against brewers in this playoff game.
youtube.com/watch?v=_zQ9sG3nEKw
Kike is next; just a glorified mascot at this point
Not even close. He’s a utility player with 7 home runs in 94 at bats. He has an OPS+ of 119, and can play any position but catcher.
I could see the Red Sox go after him!!
Mariners will pick him up and release Solano
Writing was on the wall for CT3 once they let go of Barnes. Chris Taylor was a gamer, like Barnes. Neither players value really showed on the back of a baseball card, but they were both important pieces in their last two World Series wins. For sort of an “old team”, the Dodgers could really use some youthful energy, and with Rushing and Kim, they have it.
I’d say he’d be perfect for the Pirates but hey, we have Tommy Pham