The Padres have signed infielder Samad Taylor to a minor-league deal with an invitation to Spring Training, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive. Taylor was designated for assignment by the Mariners last week and elected free agency prior to signing this new deal.
Taylor, 27, was a tenth-round draft pick by Cleveland in 2016 and spent 2016-22 in the minors with them and the Blue Jays. He reached the Triple-A level in 2022, batting .258/.337/.426 with a 104 wRC+ in 280 plate appearances. He showed solid on-base ability with a 10.0% walk rate and also showed off his speed by stealing 23 bases. He also cut his strikeout rate down to 22.1% after sitting at 29.4% in Double-A in 2021. In August 2022, he was traded to the Royals alongside right-hander Max Castillo as part of the deal sending Whit Merrifield to Toronto.
After starting 2023 at Triple-A, Taylor was called up by the Royals in mid-June for his big-league debut. In a 69-PA cup of coffee, he batted .200/.279/.267 with a wRC+ of just 50, although he maintained his strong walk rate (10.1%) and speed (eight stolen bases). That stands as his most significant big-league playing time to date. Taylor was traded to the Mariners for a player to be named later in January 2024, but made just five big-league plate appearances that year and just nine in 2025.
He performed decently at Triple-A from 2024-25. Although he was 9% below average by wRC+ in 2024, he got on base at a 35.2% clip and remained a threat on the basepaths with 50 stolen bases in 136 games. In 2025, he maintained his on-base ability and speed while upping his slugging percentage to .461 and cutting his strikeout rate to 18.7%. That brought his 2025 batting line up to .296/.378/.461, which was 14% better than average by wRC+.
Taylor has less than a year of big-league service time and is out of minor-league options. For the Padres, there’s no harm in keeping him in Triple-A as a depth piece. The club has Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, and Jake Cronenworth entrenched at three infield spots. Newcomer Sung Mun Song is slated for time around the infield and potentially the outfield, though he could start the year on the injured list following an oblique injury. An infielder by trade, Taylor spent 1,136 innings in the outfield in the minors from 2023-25 and profiles as a utility depth piece.
Photo courtesy of Stephen Brashear, Imagn Images
Excellent that padres did something. Depth always is nice. Hope Preller is cooking some other stuff too.
Feels weird that the padres have much tbd.
Does it? Cease and Manaea were signed well into spring training. Pivetta too. Arraez was traded for a month into the season. He works late every year to get deals.
Alright, you got me.
More like it feels weird that Preller hasn’t done many major league moves yet.
Yes, I know the core of the team is pretty set, but it still feels unusual.
This guy has major speed. Decent average and OBP in the minors.
Pads need to get active in next three weeks
Active doing what? Their only real need is a starting pitcher. Last year they signed Pivetta signed after pitchers and catchers reported.
Only?? The starting pitching need is a huge hole. This current team won’t make the playoffs
A small hole at the back end, not a huge hole. Pivetta, King, Musgrove, and Vazquez are locked in at 1-4 and are above average to great starting pitchers. It’s beyond that where the Padres need to fill in. I don’t think anyone is satisfied with just handing the 5th slot in the rotation to Sears and the minor league depth is not encouraging.
The Padres need 2 SP. One mid to back of the rotation starter and one they can bring up from AAA as needed when inevitable injuries hit.
This current team is much. much better than the 90-win club was to start last season. They are absolutely a playoff quality team.
Nope
Maybe 2 SPs, one mid level, one to compete for #5/6 slot
Over/under on 10 comments..
I’ll take the under
I’ll take that bet.
You underestimate our idee fixe
Minor league depth piece and one they got a good look at in spring training as they share a facility with the Mariners. Padres don’t have many holes other than starting pitching and maybe 1B/DH.
Only thing Samad can do is run really fast.
Watched him last season at spring training in the Mariners camp and he is solid, but not enough to take a spot in the Padres IF or OF even off the bench.
If he doesn’t have an opt out in his deal he will be good insurance for injuries.
100% correct my friend. Samad would have been a very reliable IF option when Albies gets hurt. AA- keep you eyes open on this guy