Prior to the MLB lockout beginning, Chris Taylor and the Los Angeles Dodgers agreed to a four-year deal contract $60 million with a team option of $12 million for 2026 and possibly took a deal less than he could have received from another team.
Although Taylor is not allowed to represent the Dodgers right now due to the lockout, that has not stopped him from continuing to be active in the community as he and Mary Keller, his fiancée, visited with patients at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
Taylor and Keller coordinated with the hospital for a virtual appearance with children on the inpatient floor within the Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute. CHLA shared video of Taylor and Keller speaking with Christian, who thanked the utilityman for choosing to re-sign in L.A. and called him one of the great players on the team.
Taylor thanked Christian and went on to say how happy he is to be back with the Dodgers, which was the only place he wanted to be. Taylor further echoed that sentiment to David Vassegh of AM 570 L.A. Sports during an appearance on “Dodger Talk”:
“I always knew I wanted to stay with the Dodgers. It was just a matter of if they were willing to work with me or be competitive, I guess. Obviously it was hard to see myself in anything but Dodger Blue.”
Taylor has become a key member of the Dodgers since being acquired via trade in June 2016. He was instrumental to the team withstanding a rash of injuries this past season and saw time at six different positions.
Taylor batted .254/.344/.438 with 20 home runs and 113 wRC+ while playing 61 games in center field, 46 at second base, 30 in left field, 23 at shortstop, 11 at third base and eight in right field.
“He’s invaluable,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts of Taylor during the year.
The 31-year-old earned a first career All-Star Game selection, was voted the Dodgers’ winner of the 2021 Heart & Hustle Award, and the 16th Roy Campanella Award. The organization presents the Roy Campanella Award annually to one player who best exemplifies the spirit and leadership of the late Hall of Fame catcher.
Taylor reportedly didn’t prioritize money
Heading into the offseason, Taylor figured to be among one of the more popular free agents. A robust market did develop, but Taylor’s representatives reportedly informed teams that money wasn’t a driving factor.
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