Chris Taylor is getting squeezed out in the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ roster crunch. The 12-year veteran has been released, which was officially announced by the team on Sunday afternoon.
The move creates room on the Dodgers’ active roster for Tommy Edman, who was activated for Sunday’s game versus the Los Angeles Angels. Edman, who has eight home runs and an .818 OPS this season, has been on the injured list since April 30 with an ankle injury.
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Moving Taylor off the roster also allows the Dodgers to avoid sending Hyeseong Kim back to the minors, rather than let him develop while playing major league games. Kim isn’t starting regularly but in 14 appearances, he’s compiled a .452/.485/.581 slash average with a home run, 5 RBI and 3 stolen bases.
Taylor, 34, is the second longtime veteran the Dodgers have cut ties with in the past week. Catcher Austin Barnes, the team’s longest-tenured position player, was moved off the roster Wednesday to clear a spot for top prospect Dalton Rushing. Taylor had the second-longest stay as a position player on the Dodgers’ roster after Barnes.
In 10 seasons with the Dodgers, Taylor tallied a .250/.330/.431 average but his true value came from his positional versatility. Taylor played all over the field, mostly at shortstop and center field but also left field, second base and third base. He was acquired from the Seattle Mariners in a 2016 midseason trade for pitcher Zach Lee.
Most Dodgers fans would likely say Taylor’s standout moment was his walk-off home run off the St. Louis Cardinals‘ Alex Reyes to win the 2021 National League wild-card game. He also shared NLCS MVP honors in 2021 with Justin Turner, hitting .316 with a 1.248 OPS and two home runs. In eight postseasons, he hit a collective .247 with a .792 OPS, 13 doubles, 9 homers and 26 RBI.
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Taylor is still owed $12.75 million to finish out the four-year, $60 million deal he signed with the Dodgers before the 2022 season. (That total includes a $4 million buyout from the 2026 club option in the deal.) The team has one week to either trade Taylor, put him on waivers or outright release him. Because the team opted to release him rather than designated him for assignment, he immediately becomes a free agent.
More moves could be coming with Teoscar Hernández set to return soon from a left groin strain. Hernández began a minor league rehab assignment Saturday. James Outman would likely return to Triple-A Oklahoma City when Hernández is activated.
The Dodgers go into Sunday’s MLB slate with a one-game lead over the San Diego Padres in the NL West at 29-17.
