Veteran infielder/outfielder Chris Taylor was in camp with the Angels on a minor league deal. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that Taylor has opted out of his deal and has been informed that he will not make the club. He’ll be a free agent whenever he is officially released. He was one of several veterans who could opt out of minor league deals this week.
Taylor, 35, spent many years with the Dodgers as the league’s top super utility guy. From 2017 to 2023, he hit .256/.336/.444 while stealing 76 bases and playing every position outside of first base and the battery. But he hit just .202/.298/.300 in 2024 and was worse in 2025, getting released. He ended up with the Angels but finished the season with a combined .186/.256/.301 line.
He returned to the Angels this offseason but had to settle for a minor league deal. He had a good showing in camp, putting up a .231/.388/.410 line in 49 plate appearances, but it appears the Angels are putting more stock in his larger sample of regular season work over the past two years.
The Halos have had an open battle for their second base job this spring and the decisions appear to be coming into focus. Christian Moore was optioned a few days ago. Vaughn Grissom has a left hand injury and may start the season on the injured list.
With Taylor now out, that seemingly leaves Adam Frazier to get the job. He has hit .310/.429/.414 this spring and his left-handed bat would help to balance a lineup that otherwise skews to the right. Oswald Peraza has had a nice spring and seemingly earned a job on the bench. Switch-hitter Jeimer Candelario could also get a roster spot if Grissom does indeed hit the IL.
If Frazier and Candelario both make the team, they would need spots on the 40-man roster. One spot can easily be opened by placing Anthony Rendon on the 60-day IL, since he’s not expected to play this year. Robert Stephenson could be another 60-day IL candidate since he may have damage in the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow.
Taylor will head to the open market and to see what opportunities await him. He won’t be helped by his performance in 2024 and 2025 but his defensive versatility could help him fit with many clubs and his bat looked a bit better in camp just now, for whatever that’s worth.
Photo courtesy of Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images
So either Teodosio or Siri makes the roster as true 4th Outfielder.
Wonder if anyone will bite at Taylor’s defensive versatility and 50% k rate…
Hey Siri, do you make the club or Teodosio?
It will be Teodosio over Siri. Siri hasn’t done much to prove himself.. and if we’re “supposed” to take the team seriously about only adding players who have proved themselves, then this would be the correct decision.
Kellin… Yes… I agree.
Thinking of a song. I gotta get out of this place, If it’s the last thing I ever do!
So Chris Taylor retired.
his game is done, as I find it incredible if a team would sign an over 35 year old whose game has diminished and shows no sign of change.
Wrong. He didn’t retire. He’s never done
He didn’t retire. He just wants to play for a real baseball team. Any other team.
CT3 was one of my favorite players. Wasn’t a star by any means, but he was super valuable to those teams that he was on. A leader in that clubhouse from all accounts. He’s made nearly 76 million dollars playing baseball. I can see why a local team makes sense, but not a minor league deal. And I don’t see any team in California really having a need. I think the writing is on the wall. He can go surf Malibu all summer and be retired at 35. Not a bad life by any means. Dude has two rings, and he’ll probably get voted into a 3rd from last year.
Salt Lake City just ain’t his kind of town.
I wonder if the Twins have scouted him. Their infield utility options are awful, to the point that if Taylor could put together a .600 OPS he might be their best option.
If you can’t make the Angels you might consider it a career.
Nah. Its just that this off-season they added a bunch of guys on minor league contracts and several have several that have performed better than CT3.
Maybe Tampa Bay?
That’s three time World Series champion Chris Taylor.
It’s over. Let it go.
If you can’t make this team, move on.
He’s great guy who will probably make a solid coach some day. Does plenty of charity work too.
There are teams with worse rosters than the Angels. Not a lot. But some.
Defensively though, this team is about as bad as it gets.