Chris Taylor was outright released on Sunday as the corresponding move to Tommy Edman being reinstated from the 10-day injured list before the finale of the Freeway Seres.
It marked the Dodgers’ second such decision with their longest-tenured position player over the past week. That previously was Austin Barnes, who was designated for assignment last Wednesday.
Taylor’s time with the Dodgers organization has come to an end in his 10th season with the team. Taylor famously was acquired in a trade with the Seattle Mariners in exchange for former heralded pitching prospect Zach Lee.
Taylor at the time was in the midst of a middling season with the Mariners, and he finished 2016 with only slight improvements upon joining the Dodgers. But there was a significant step forward the following year and Taylor went on to become a Dodgers All-Star in 2021.
Along with revamping his swing to become a productive hitter, Taylor provided the Dodgers with plenty of versatility in the field. He essentially was the poster child for the organization’s affinity with a super utility player.
The Dodgers signed Taylor to a four-year, $60 million contract just before the MLB lockout began in December 2021. At the time it appeared to be a bargain deal, but Taylor’s production waned over recent seasons.
Taylor’s 87 games played in 2024 were his fewest in a full season with the Dodgers. Receiving inconsistent at-bats since moving to a bench role may have exacerbated his offensive woes last season.
That carried into this year, which manager Dave Roberts hinted at not being certain of Taylor’s role while still believing in the veteran’s intangibles.
“I don’t know right now,” answered Roberts during Spring Training when asked how he saw Taylor fitting into the lineup. “I’ve always said one of Chris’ super powers — and he’s won a lot of big games for the Dodgers in the biggest of moments — is his mindset, his mentality, to be ready for whatever we ask of him.
“And his ability to play all over the diamond. He’s got various gloves, he’s healthy, he’s moving really well.”
Taylor went on to play in just 28 games so far this season before being released by the Dodgers. His future with the team became particularly tenuous with the emergence of rookie Hyeseong Kim.
Taylor’s contract included a $12 million team option for 2026, and $4 million buyout.
Chris Taylor’s service time
Taylor was in the final guaranteed season of his contract and also approaching 10 years of Major League service time. He was poised to become a player with 10-and-5 rights, which would’ve automatically given Taylor a full no-trade clause.
Taylor can still reach the service time milestone with another club, but he won’t obtain the no-trade clause due to longer spending the last five of 10 overall MLB seasons with one team.
Max Muncy now is the longest-tenured Dodgers position player at eight seasons. Kiké Hernández is the lone remaining position player from their 2017 World Series team.
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