The Mariners designated utilityman Samad Taylor for assignment. That creates a 40-man roster spot for reliever Yosver Zulueta, whose previously reported acquisition from Cincinnati is official.
Taylor was on Seattle’s 40-man roster for the majority of last season. He didn’t get much of a big league opportunity, only stepping to the plate nine times over four games. The M’s otherwise kept him on optional assignment to Triple-A Tacoma. Taylor had an excellent season in the Pacific Coast League, batting .296/.378/.461 with 27 doubles, seven triples and 17 home runs across 657 plate appearances. He posted better than average walk and strikeout rates while stealing 44 bases in 54 attempts.
The right-handed hitting Taylor has consistently produced against minor league pitching. He owns a .281/.373/.432 slash line in nearly 2000 Triple-A plate appearances over four seasons. Teams have remained skeptical about his ability to carry that over against big league pitching. Taylor has minimal power, as he’s listed at 5’8″ and 160 pounds.
Despite last year’s decent home run total, his exit velocities in Triple-A have been well below average. He has used his smaller strike zone to his advantage and worked a lot of walks against minor league pitchers. That could be difficult to maintain against MLB arms, who have better command and should be more equipped to challenge Taylor within the zone.
Seattle successfully ran Taylor through waivers unclaimed last offseason. That’d give him the right to elect free agency if he clears this time around. Taylor’s minor league production and ability to play second base and anywhere in the outfield could get him a look on the waiver wire. He’s now out of minor league options, however, so a claiming team would need to carry him on the MLB roster or send him back to DFA limbo.
Wish we would have played him more once Dylan Moore was DFA’d. Seems to be a solid super utility if he can hit lefties
Huh. This cat can hit. Or did in the minors. And plays all over. Not sure I love this exchange for the M’s.
Wrong guy to DFA; should have been Rhylan Thomas. Taylor can hit AND run.
I disagree. Thomas led all outfielders with 155 PAs or more in SwStr at just 4.2% .and he had over 600 PAs. Lowest overall K%, too.
Their slash lines were really similar, but Thomas offered better PAs, is a year younger, and has options.
Taylor is out of options and it’s not like he was going to break camp with the club.
I always liked Samad when he was in the Jays system. Just never seems to get a prolonged chance at the big league level.
Wonder what it would take the Mets to attain Samad Taylor. Could be a placeholder until A.J. Ewing is ready. Personally think Benge will come up after Ewing.
Nevermind. Thought I saw he was an outfielder but is an infielder.
He plays everywhere
2B/OF
Any team will be a better team with Samad on the roster. He’ll get on with a NL team soon
Why NL specifically?
Samad DFA will get the Donovan trade kick started…🧐
Odd choice, seeing as he plays both infield and outfield, runs well, and can hit a bit. Not that he’s going to make the 26, but he’s a nice guy to have in Tacoma. I’d probably have chosen one of Jonathan Diaz, Blas Castaño, or Rylan Thomas. Now, where is the big move? Clock’s ticking. 26 days until pitchers and catchers…
Samad having no Minor Lg options left for 2026 makes him a sound choice no?
Reds?
Welcome back to KC, Samad Taylor.
You need to remember the PCL is a high BA league. The balls carry and fields are big. Not sure how good he really is. Seemed like a possible major leaguer as a utility player. Dipoto has done a really good job with this team I trust him to make a good decision on players.
Mariners suck
Thanks for your participation you may now move to the aisle and make your way out of the room. Nobody cares about your juvenile comment. You seem to be a 40whiner fan and very angry.
That’s rude. I’m just tired of waiting for us to do something… It seems a though ownership just paid Josh, and expects that to be enough.
Seems he has a good minor league record transitioning to the major league is very much an individual accomplishment try not in languishing.
News moves slow with the Mariners. The rich get richer if the news of Tucker becomes signed by the Dodgers 😔 let us not forget Skubul now is this not crazy stuff? There farm club is the best no need to draw talent from it when you can buy whatever you want on the other hand the Mariners are the cheapest team I’ve ever seen. Don’t be surprised if Houston surpasses us this year.